TRADE AND INDUSTRY

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Standing Committee for Implementation of the Directive on Marketing of Biocidal Products is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	No date has yet been fixed for the next meeting of the Standing Committee on Biocidal Products but we expect it to be held in Spring 2003. The UK representation at such meetings would depend on the subject(s) under consideration, and would normally consist of officials from the Health and Safety Executive. However, the legislation implementing the Biocidal Products Directive in Great Britain specifies the competent authorities in or as regards Scotland as the Secretary of State and the Scottish Ministers, acting jointly, and so my officials consult the Scottish Executive on agenda items in which it might have an interest.

Military Exports

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export licence renewals have been held up for (a) India and (b) Pakistan in the last two months.

Nigel Griffiths: Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) generally allow shipments of specified items, to a specified consignee, up to the quantity specified in the licence, within a specified period. The Export Control Organisation does not renew SIELs.
	Applications for renewal of Open Individual Export Licences are being processed as quickly as possible consistent with the Government's determination to manage the transfer of all goods and technology controlled for strategic reasons in a responsible manner.

Military Exports

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what licences have been granted for equipment on the military and dual-use lists to (a) Georgia, (b) Uzbekistan, (c) Kyrgyzstan, (d) Tajikistan, (e) Turkey, (f) the Philippines, (g) Kenya, (h) Ethiopia, (i) Djibouti, (j) Bahrain, (k) Oman, (l) Jordan, (m) Yemen, (n) India, (o) Pakistan and (p) Israel in each month from January 2001 to September 2001, including military list and dual-use ratings; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 8 July 2002
	The number of Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) covering items on the military and dual use lists, issued where the end users are in Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, the Philippines, Kenya, Ethiopia, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Yemen, India, Pakistan and Israel in each month from January 2001 to September 2001, is set out in the tables which are placed in the Libraries of the House. During that same period no SIELs or OIELs were issued where the end user was in Djibouti.
	Individual licences might cover a range of items with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the tables in the total for all relevant ratings.
	Pursuant to my answer to the right hon. and learned Member of 11 June 2002, Official Report, column 1156W, I regret that one OIEL covering the ratings 5A002 & 5B002 issued in September 2001, where the end user was Uzbekistan, was inadvertently excluded from the table in that answer.
	The summary descriptions of the items covered by these ratings are published in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls. The 2001 Annual Report will be published soon.
	In addition some of the countries are permitted destinations on certain Open General Export Licences, copies of which are also placed in the Libraries of the House.
	All relevant export licence applications are considered very carefully on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time.

Military Exports

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations her Department has received concerning the acquisition by India of Hawk aircrew training simulators.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department of Trade and Industry's Export Control Organisation has received various representations regarding the export of arms and other items controlled for strategic reasons to India from a number of different sources, including Members of Parliament, exporters and the general public.
	It is not possible to establish the extent of representations received concerning the acquisition by India of Hawk aircrew training simulators as the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Military Exports

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list those countries which have during the last 12 months imported defence equipment from another country which incorporates equipment exported from the UK to that other country following the granting of an export licence by her Department.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 11 July 2002
	End use monitoring is undertaken by the FCO, not the DTI.

Military Exports

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what system is in place to ensure that priority is given to applications for export licences in respect of goods which are urgently required by customers and where delay in making a decision will result in the cancellation of the order.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government process all export licence applications as quickly as possible consistent with our determination to manage the transfer of all goods and technology controlled for strategic reasons in a responsible manner. All relevant export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time and taking into account of other relevant factors. At the same time, every effort is made to be helpful and responsive to exporters who inform the DTI that they are under time pressure.

Regulatory Impact Unit

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many members of her Department have been employed in its regulatory impact unit in the past five years; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: From July 1997 to April 1999 the unit comprised two members of staff. This was increased to three members of staff in May 1999. There are currently six members of staff in the better regulation team which now incorporates the regulatory impact unit.
	It is the job of departmental regulatory impact units to establish and promote the principles of good regulation in their departments. The staff in each unit work closely with the officials responsible for developing policies within their department and the regulatory impact unit within the Cabinet Office. They focus on those regulations that impact on business, charities and the voluntary sector.
	Following the recent review of the DTI, the regulatory challenge function within the Department has been strengthened. The former regulatory impact unit has been enhanced to support a more robust challenge function and offer broader advice to policy makers, including on considering alternatives to regulation.

Small Businesses

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken, in the last 12 months, to reduce the regulatory burdens on small businesses; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government has put in place a number of measures to reduce the burden of regulations on small businesses, including:
	Introducing in October 2001 that employers with four or fewer employees will be exempt from the requirements to provide access to stakeholder pensions and deduct pension contributions.
	An estimated 900,000 SMEs benefiting from measures announced in Budget 2002, including 485,000 businesses whose corporation tax bill has been cut or abolished, and 700,000 small businesses who will be able to benefit from our flat rate VAT scheme.
	The Small Business Service has produced clear guidance on a number of complex regulations.
	The Business Link website is now attracting 80,000 users per month—and businesses can register to receive alerts about regulations automatically.
	Ensuring that the view of small business influenced Patrick Carter's review of payroll administration, a copy of which is in the Libraries of the House.
	In February we published the regulatory Reform Action Plan—setting out over 250 proposals for better regulation and reform.
	Further to these measures:
	Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) have to be produced for all regulations setting out clearly the costs and benefits with full recognition of small business concerns. The Department's policy is to 'think small first': the Small Business Service has to be consulted on all RIAs to ensure that the impact on small firms is not disproportionate. Guidance on producing RIAs is currently being updated to include the effect on competition and the SBS Small Business Litmus Test.
	Following the recent review of the DTI, the regulatory challenge function within the Department has been strengthened. The former regulatory impact unit has been enhanced to support a more robust challenge function and offer broader advice to policy makers, including on considering alternatives to regulation.

Urban Post Offices

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government will take to replace the loss of revenue in urban post offices arising from moves towards automated credit transfer in pensions and benefits.

Stephen Timms: The Government are committed to the future of the post office network. As agreed following the Performance and Innovation Unit report "Counter Revolution: Modernising the Post Office Network", the Government are supporting an urban restructuring programme intended to provide improved facilities which meet customers' needs and expectations and are in the right location for the local community.
	Banking will be a central part of post offices' strategy to move forward. Universal banking services, together with Post Office Limited's plans for an expansion of network banking—the provision of counter services for ordinary current accounts—should lead to substantial increases in the range and volume of banking at post offices, tapping into a very much larger customer base than benefit recipients alone. This should benefit subpostmasters both directly and through increased footfall, providing a major income stream offsetting the loss over time of the benefit book related revenue.

Urban Post Offices

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the impact the Universal Bank will have on the number of post offices in urban areas.

Stephen Timms: Banking services should help ensure a viable future for many urban post offices which might otherwise struggle to keep and attract customers as banking will be a central part of post offices' strategy to move forward. Universal banking services, together with Post Office Limited's plans for an expansion of network banking—the provision of counter services for ordinary current accounts—should lead to substantial increases in the range and volume of banking at post offices, tapping into a very much larger customer base than benefit recipients alone. This should benefit subpostmasters both directly and through increased footfall, providing a major income stream offsetting the loss over time of the benefit book related revenue.
	The current value to Consignia of business from the Department of Work and Pensions is some £400 million a year. The migration of benefit payment to ACT is scheduled to begin in 2003. How that migration affects the revenue of subpostmasters will depend on a number of factors, not least how benefit recipients and other post office customers respond to change.
	Universal banking services are due to be introduced in 2003 when migration of benefit payments by ACT is scheduled to begin. When that happens and whatever account people chose to have their benefits paid into, the Government are committed to ensuring that those who wish to do so will be able to continue to get their benefits in cash at post offices in full without charge.
	In many urban areas, there are too many post offices in very close proximity to each other for them all to be viable, regardless of the migration to ACT. That is why the Performance and Innovation Unit recommended a programme of modernisation and restructuring designed to ensure that urban sub post offices can operate as viable businesses for their owners and offer improved services from the right locations to serve their communities. The Government are providing up to £210 million of financial support for Post Office Limited's urban reinvention programme.

Trading Schemes Act

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many investigations of complaints have been carried out under the Trading Schemes Act 1996.

Melanie Johnson: The Trading Schemes Act 1996 does not contain powers of investigation. It extends certain provisions of Part XI of the Fair Trading Act 1973 which deals with pyramid selling and similar trading schemes. Schemes may be investigated under section 29 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 which is also used for other types of investigation. There have been 13 investigations under section 29.

Regional Newspapers

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information she collates about the concentration of ownership in (a) regional morning and (b) regional evening newspapers; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Applications for consent to a newspaper transfer under the Fair Trading Act 1973 address the effect the transaction would have on concentration of ownership in the relevant markets. In addition, the Department has access to the Joint Industry Committee for Regional Press Research (JICREG) and Newspaper Society databases, which provide information on local and regional newspaper circulation.
	Competition Commission reports on newspaper transfers also address the issue of consolidation in the regional newspaper industry.

Broadband Access

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of households in the Huntingdon constituency have access to broadband lines.

Stephen Timms: Broadband services by one or more of ADSL, cable and wireless are available to around 66 per cent. of the population. Satellite broadband is available throughout the country.
	A map showing geographical availability of broadband services can be found in the UK Online Annual Report [http://www.-envoy.gov.uk/ukonline/champions/ anrepmenu.htm].

Corporate Governance Report

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the report by Professor Higgs commissioned by the Government on corporate governance issues will be published.

Melanie Johnson: Derek Higgs has said that he intends to publish his report around the end of the year.

Foreign Workers

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what checks are carried out to ensure that foreign workers engaged (a) in contracts at UK power stations and (b) on ferry services with the United Kingdom are not being exploited while employed within the United Kingdom to the disadvantage of British workers.

Alan Johnson: Under section 1(2) of the National Minimum Wage Act (NMWA) 1998 a person qualifies for the national minimum wage if he works or ordinarily works in the United Kingdom under his contract. The United Kingdom includes UK territorial waters.
	The minimum wage applies to all workers in all of the United Kingdom's power stations regardless of nationality. Similarly national minimum wage applies to all ferry service workers working within territorial waters. For mariners in general the right to receive at least the national minimum is extended to include any individual employed on a UK registered ship unless the employment is wholly outside the United Kingdom or the worker is not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.
	It is the role of the Inland Revenue to enforce the National Minimum Wage. They do that by responding to all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage and by visiting a sample of employers about whom no complaints have been made to check that all employers meet their obligations under National Minimum Wage Law. Checks are not made on the basis of worker nationality.
	If any worker is being underpaid, or if anyone has knowledge of a company underpaying of the National Minimum Wage, they can ring the Inland Revenue Helpline number (0845 6000 678) to report the fact. Callers can remain anonymous.

Foreign Workers

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether EU companies which obtain major contracts within the United Kingdom are required to pay their employees the minimum wage while working here.

Alan Johnson: Under section 1(2) of the National Minimum Wage Act (NMWA) 1998 a person qualifies for the national minimum wage if he works or ordinarily works in the United Kingdom under his contract.
	We would therefore expect all EU employees working in the United Kingdom to qualify for the minimum wage.

Employment Relations Act

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her assessment is of the impact of the Employment Relations Act 1999.

Alan Johnson: We believe that the Employment Relations Act 1999 is having a generally positive impact on employment relations. However, in line with our previous commitments, on 11 July 2002 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced a review of the detailed operation of the Act.

Combined Heat and Power

Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will announce her decision on Basell Polyolefins Ltd.'s proposal to build a combined heat and power gas-fired power station at the Basell Polyolefins works at Carrington.

Brian Wilson: I have today given consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to Basell Polyolefins UK Ltd. to build a 65 megawatt gas-fired combined heat and power station at the Carrington works at Urmston, Manchester. Planning permission for the station was granted subject to 38 conditions agreed with Trafford Metropolitan borough council.
	Combined heat and power plants are designed to produce both electricity and usable heat. They have environmental benefits due to their high levels of energy efficiency.
	The decision demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to promote CHP, wherever practicable, and our commitment to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases to fulfil the promises we gave at Kyoto.
	Copies of the Press Notice and decision letter are being placed in the Libraries of the House.

Combined Heat and Power

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will announce her decision on Cleveland Potash Ltd.'s proposal to build a combined heat and power gas-fired power station at the Boulby mine works at Saltburn, Cleveland.

Brian Wilson: I have today given clearance under section 14(1) of the Energy Act 1976 to Cleveland Potash Ltd. to build a 22.4 megawatt gas-fired combined heat and power station at the Boulby mine works.
	Combined heat and power plants are designed to produce both electricity and usable heat. They have environmental benefits due to their high levels of energy efficiency.
	The decision demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to promote CHP, wherever practicable, and our commitment to reducing emissions of carbon to fulfil the promises we gave at Kyoto.
	Copies of the press notice and decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.

Miners' Pension Fund

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with the trustees of the Miners' Pension Fund with regard to the Government's share of the fund surplus.

Brian Wilson: The Department is having ongoing discussions with the trustees of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme to review the arrangements for the Government's guarantee of members' basic pension benefits as I announced on 17 January. The review will consider how best to ensure that there continues to be an equitable sharing of risks and rewards.

Payment of Bills

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of bills were paid on time by Government Departments and their agencies during the financial year 2000–01.

Nigel Griffiths: The overall payment performance of Government is 95.86 per cent. Figures for the financial year 2000–01 show that there has been a slight decrease in overall performance this year. However, there has been an improvement in the payment performance of a number of Departments and agencies with 60 per cent. achieving the average and 20 per cent. paying 99 per cent. or more of their invoices on time.
	Government Departments and their agencies are required to monitor their payment performance and to publish the results in their departmental or annual reports. The table lists, by Department, the proportion of bills paid within 30 days, or other agreed credit period, of receipt of a valid invoice.
	
		
			 Main Departments Percentage for each Department paid on time 
		
		
			 Ministry of Defence 100.00 
			 National Investment and Loans Office 100.00 
			 Privy Council Office 99.70 
			 Scotland Office(1) 99.51 
			 Office of Water Services 99.45 
			 Office of Telecommunications 99.30 
			 Public Records Office 99.14 
			 Land Registry 99.07 
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 99.05 
			 Inland Revenue 98.90 
			 Health and Safety Executive 98.86 
			 HM Treasury 98.74 
			 Office of the Rail Regulator 98.71 
			 Government Actuary's Department 98.57 
			 Office for National Statistics 98.30 
			 DTLR Total 98.28 
			 DTI and its agencies 97.68 
			 Export Credit Guarantee Department 97.94 
			 Ordnance Survey 97.84 
			 HM Customs and Excise 97.38 
			 Charity Commission 97.10 
			 Department for National Savings and Investments 96.90 
			 Forestry Commission 96.73 
			 Department for International Development 96.62 
			 Treasury Solicitors Department 96.50 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 96.39 
			 Cabinet Office (OPS) 95.75 
			 Lord Chancellor's Department (Overall Total) 95.14 
			 Department for Education and Skills 95.09 
			 Department of Health (Total of DOH and agencies) 94.97 
			 Home Office (agencies) (Total) 94.58 
			 Food Standards Agency 93.88 
			 Northern Ireland Office 93.81 
			 Crown Prosecution Service 93.69 
			 Office for Government Commerce (OGC) 93.29 
			 Department for Work and Pensions 93.01 
			 Office of Fair Trading 92.65 
			 Serious Fraud Office 91.29 
			 Office for Standards in Education 88.61 
			 Royal Mint 88.25 
			
			 Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) 87.72 
			 DEFRA (includes all agencies in totals) 86.99 
			 Wales Office 86.67 
			  
			 Total percentage paid on time 95.86 
		
	
	(1) Figures only available to 31 Dec 2001

Petroleum Licensing

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 323W, on petroleum licensing, what decisions she has made on licence awards in the 20th Offshore Licensing Round.

Brian Wilson: I have decided to award 25 production licences to licence groups made up of 33 different companies. They include six companies acquiring their first offshore licences as well as more familiar names, and range from the super-giants to small new niche players.
	It is encouraging that so many companies see further opportunities for investment and development in the North sea's core areas, even after nearly 40 years of intensive exploration there. It bodes well for future licensing rounds, which will cover a lot of acreage that, by contrast, is still under-explored and under-exploited. The DTI, with PILOT (formerly the Oil and Gas Industry Task Force), will seek to give every opportunity to small, innovative companies eager to exploit the UK's hydrocarbon resources with new technology. I am particularly delighted to see the response from newcomers who fully understand the potential rewards still to be made in the North sea.
	In an effort to concentrate licensees' minds and prevent the appearance of fallow acreage in future, in pursuit of recommendations by PILOT I have made some significant changes to the licences compared with earlier versions. The first two terms will last for four years each instead of six and 12 years respectively, and there will be a mandatory relinquishment of all acreage that is not covered by a development plan at the end of the second term. The Government will also be enabled to publish information three years after receiving it, instead of five (or at licence surrender, whichever is sooner). All this is part of the Government's strategy of bringing together acreage and the companies best fitted to exploit it.
	The companies within each licence group (with the operator named first), the blocks covered and a brief resumé of the Work Programmes, are as follows:
	
		
			  Companies (operator first)   Block(s) Work Programme—firm commitments unless indicated otherwise: (K) Contingent commitments; (D/D)Drill or Drop commitments  Marks(2) 
		
		
			 Talisman, Intrepid 14/18c Reprocess 3D seismic data83 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 EnCana, OMV, Paladin 15/18b, 15/19b 1 well 
			   Reprocess 3D seismic data117 
			   1 well (K) 
			 
			 Kerr McGee, EDC, Enterprise (3)15/20a 1 well 
			   Reprocess 3D seismic data 
			   Perform one Front End Engineering and Design Study156 
			   1 well (K) 
			   Acquire 3D seismic data (K) 
			 
			 OilExCo(4) 15/25b Acquire 3D seismic data 
			   Reprocess 3D seismic data42 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 OilExCo(4) 15/25c Acquire 3D seismic data 
			   Reprocess 3D seismic data38 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 EnCana, Paladin, Tullow, Montrose 15/28c Reprocess 3D seismic data71 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 Phillips, EnCana 16/18b Reprocess 3D seismic data78 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 EnCana, Intrepid, Edinburgh Oil and Gas 20/2c Acquire 3D seismic data 
			   Reprocess 3D seismic data91 
			   1 well (K) 
			 
			 EDC, Enterprise, Bow Valley 20/3c, 20/7b, 20/8 1 well 
			   2 wells (K)153 
			   Acquire 3D seismic data 
			   Reprocess 3D seismic data 
			 
			 Reach (5)20/10b, 20/15, 21/6a, 21/11b Acquire 3D seismic data 
			   Reprocess 3D seismic data38 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 Kerr McGee 21/5b, 22/1c 1 well 111 
			 
			 Chevron, Gaz De France, Ruhrgas 22/2b Reprocess 3D seismic data 
			   1 well (D/D)116 
			   Acquire 3D seismic data (K) 
			 Amerada Hess, Agip, Dana 23/11 Reprocess 3D seismic data69 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 Phillips, Statoil, TotalFinaElf, Agip 30/20 1 well (D/D)58 
			   Acquire 3D seismic data (K) 
			 
			 CNR (6)30/25 Acquire 3D seismic data103 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 RWE, Consort, Egdon 42/27 Reprocess 3D seismic data63 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 Gaz De France, Tullow, Consort 44/11, 44/12 Acquire 3D seismic data125 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 CMS Energy, 44/13 Acquire 3D seismic data 
			   Reprocess 3D seismic data96 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 Gaz De France, Tullow, Consort 44/16 Reprocess 3D seismic data87 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 Conoco, Gaz De France, Tullow 44/18b, 44/23b Reprocess 3D seismic data94 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 Conoco, Gaz De France, Tullow 44/28a Reprocess 3D seismic data94 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 British Gas, Amerada Hess 47/3h Reprocess 3D seismic data68 
			   1 well (D/D) 
			 
			 Warwick(7) (3)48–21 Acquire 3D seismic data 
			   1 well (D/D)57 
			   Perform a Front End Engineering and Design study (K) 
			 
			 Shell, Esso 49/12b, 49/13c Acquire 3D seismic data84 
			   Reprocess 3D seismic data 
			 
			 OilExCo(4) 49/25b, 50/21 Acquire 3D seismic data 
			   Reprocess 3D seismic data45 
			   1 well (D/D) 
		
	
	(2) Marks awarded are not comparable between blocks.
	(3) Only parts of these blocks were available for licensing.
	(4) Licence offer conditional on creation of a UK (or EU) subsidiary to hold it.
	(5) Only parts of these blocks are awarded.
	(6) That part of 30/25 that includes part of the Ardmore field is awarded to Tuscan by extending Licence P1035. The remainder of the block is awarded to CNR.
	(7) Licence offer conditional on submission of a satisfactory parent company guarantee.

Post Office

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what impact the decision by Consignia to impose a charge to businesses to deliver letters before 9 am will have on the Universal Service Obligation.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 17 July 2002
	Consignia has not decided to impose a charge of £20 per week to businesses for deliveries before 9 am. The company is currently running pilots of their new Tailored Delivery Service in 14 delivery offices across the country. Under the pilot, customers who receive 20 or more letters on a regular basis will get a delivery before 9 am. Other customers will receive their mail between 9 am and lunchtime. A new, additional service will allow customers who do not receive 20 or more items to choose to pay for a delivery before 9 am. The service will be trialled at £5, £10 and just over £14 per week for the pilots but the Chairman of Consignia has said that the final proposed price will be part of the evaluation of the pilots in consultation with the regulator, the Postal Services Commission (Postcomm), and the consumer body, Postwatch.
	Under the terms of the licence issued to it by the Postal Services Commission (Postcomm), Consignia is required to provide a universal postal service. The licence sets out services which are to be provided by Consignia in meeting a universal postal service. This includes a requirement to make at least one delivery of mail every working day to all addresses in the UK except in circumstances that Postcomm considers exceptional. It is for Postcomm to decide whether the new Tailored Delivery Service meets this requirement.

EU Employment Directive

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her plans are for (a) implementing the European directive on information and consultation of employees and (b) the review of employment status.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government are today publishing a paper setting out our vision for the future of the UK labour market, one based on the objectives of full employment, diversity and choice, and high productivity. The Government are also publishing a complementary analysis of European labour markets. Modernisation of our employment relations framework is a central feature of delivering this vision.
	I am also publishing discussion documents on information and consultation and employment status in relation to statutory employment rights and have placed copies in the Vote Office and the Libraries of the House.

Public Procurement Policy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to modify the public procurement policy so public bodies have to buy local fresh food; what recent representations she has had on this subject; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 10 July 2002
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Government's public procurement policy requires all purchases of goods and services to be based on value for money, having due regard to propriety and regularity. Value for money is defined as "the optimum combination of whole life cost and quality (or fitness for purpose) to meet the customer's requirement". Public bodies are also required to comply with the EC Treaty, the EC procurement directives and the UK Regulations that implement them. These are designed to ensure that public procurement is fair, transparent and not used to discriminate by setting up barriers to free trade. Member States reached political agreement on a revised public procurement directive at the Internal Market Council on 21 May. This revised directive maintains the principles set out above.
	This policy and legal framework for public procurement not only secures value for money for the taxpayer but also helps to improve the competitiveness of, and opportunities for, our suppliers. It does not, however, permit public sector buyers to restrict their purchases to specific locations or suppliers.
	However, it is permitted to specify requirements that might provide the opportunity for local suppliers to make use of their proximity to customers. For example, a requirement for frequent delivery of fresh food would be acceptable provided it was reasonable and not contrived to create an artificial barrier to free trade. In principle a foreign supplier is not denied an opportunity to compete on equal terms by, for example, setting up an operation in Britain. Public bodies can also ensure that their contract specifications do not discriminate against local suppliers. For example, requiring the supply of mangetout throughout the year would necessitate purchases from overseas and deny local suppliers an opportunity to compete. To avoid such difficulties for local suppliers the buying authority can require seasonal vegetables instead.
	Issues relating to public procurement policy have also been raised by several respondents, including the organic sector, to the Department's Sustainable Food and Farming Working Together consultation paper. These are also under consideration.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Angola

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people in Angola she estimates are threatened by starvation; and if she will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The United Nations estimates that some half a million people are facing starvation in Angola, and that more than a million others are completely dependent on food aid for their survival. Thousands are reported to have died of hunger over the last few months and many more are dying every day.
	My Department is deeply concerned about the situation and is providing direct assistance to the humanitarian agencies responding to the emergency. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely—a DFID assessment team is visiting Angola this weekend to supplement our information about the situation and help us to respond quickly to further support needs. We are also playing an active part to ensure that the international donor community and the Government of Angola together respond effectively to the urgent humanitarian needs of the Angolan people.

Angola

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much bilateral aid has been given to Angola over the last 12 months; for what purposes the aid was directed; and if she will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: Over the last 12 months DFID has contributed £1.7 million to the 2002 United Nations appeal for Angola to ensure that critical humanitarian needs are met and to assist in the reception areas for ex-UNITA fighters. We have also committed some £2 million to the ICRC and MSF, who are at the forefront of the humanitarian response.
	In addition, DFID's development programme to Angola has spent some £2 million pounds over the last 12 months on the Luanda Urban Poverty Programme, which aims to provide the urban poor with improved access to basic services and economic livelihoods. We have also assisted the Government of Angola to consider the case for the World bank to put in place an effective demobilisation and reintegration programme for ex-UNITA fighters.

Indonesia

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with EU partners on Strek Plots in East Kalimantan; and if she will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The research undertaken on Strek Plots is of critical importance for the sustainable management and exploitation of Indonesia's forest resources. The plots are under immediate threat from illegal logging. A secondary threat from mining operations is currently the subject of amicable, but unconcluded, negotiations.
	DFID is working with the Government of Indonesia to promote a sustainable timber industry, which protects the interests of poor people who are dependent upon forest resources for their livelihoods. We co-ordinate this work closely with other donors supporting the Government's efforts to reform the forestry sector. This includes the European Union with whom we are in regular contact.
	The UK Government have recently concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Indonesia that commits us to working together to combat illegal logging. This will help secure the future of the Strek Plots. My officials are currently working with their Indonesian counterparts to finalise an action plan to implement the memorandum. Details were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) on 27 June 2002, Official Report, column 995W.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if she will list the CDC Capital Partners' offices in the United States; and what the locations of those offices are;
	(2)  if she will list (a) the countries in which CDC Capital Partners has opened offices in the past three years and (b) the location of those offices;
	(3)  how many CDC Capital Partners' offices are in non- Commonwealth countries; and if she will list (a) those offices and (b) when they were opened.

Clare Short: CDC has offices in the United States in Miami (Latin America regional office), Houston (for GlobeleQ power fund) and Vienna, Virginia (India representative office). In the last three years, in addition to the three offices in the United States, CDC has opened in Beijing, Lagos, Mexico City, Cairo and Singapore.
	CDC has offices in 10 non-Commonwealth countries. They are: Bolivia (1997), the People's Republic of China (2000), Costa Rica (1978), Cote d'Ivoire (1987), Cuba (1997), Egypt (2000), Indonesia (1971), Mexico (2000), Thailand (1971) and the United States (all three US offices opened in 2000).

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) target, (b) current and (c) projected rate of return on CDC Capital Partners' investments is, by sector, in (i) sub-Saharan Africa, (ii) South Asia, (iii) Latin America, (iv) Asia-Pacific and (v) China.

Clare Short: CDC will seek to make a rate of return on an individual investment commensurate with the associated risk involved. This will vary across sectors and geographies. Information about the target, current and projected rate of returns for individual investment is commercially sensitive.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on CDC Capital Partners' scheme for assessing the environmental impact of its investments.

Clare Short: Each new deal investigated by CDC is given a risk rating for health and safety, environmental and social issues. A formal environmental impact assessment is carried out by independent consultants, and an environmental management plan is put in place, where there is perceived to be a high risk of the investment potentially having a significant environmental impact (as may be the case with mining, cement manufacture, and projects involving large construction sites). Otherwise the deal team will review the possible environment impact of investments as part of its due diligence exercise and, if any specific areas of concern are identified, external appropriate consultants may be brought in to advise on these specific issues. CDC reviews any environmental concerns arising from existing investments via a formal investment valuation review every six months and through its Business Principles Unit.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what meetings she had with CDC Capital Partners' executives in April; what was discussed; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: I had meetings in April with the chairman, chief executive and finance director of CDC about the annual results in 2001 and the progress of the Public/Private Partnership.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what CDC Capital Partners' stock options are held by (a) each executive director, (b) each non-executive director, (c) each office director and (d) other mid-level executives.

Clare Short: None.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development by how much CDC Capital Partners' net debt increased in 2002; to whom the debt is liable; and at what interest rate in each case.

Clare Short: At the start of the year CDC Group plc had net cash of £207 million and loans due to the Department of International Development (DFID) of £755 million, producing a net debt figure of £548 million. At 30 June 2002, the net cash was approximately £225 million and loans due to DFID remained at £755 million. The loans due to DFID are interest free.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will describe CDC Capital Partners' criteria for assessing human rights conditions in the countries in which it invests.

Clare Short: CDC has developed a framework for assessing the human rights conditions in the countries in which it invests. This is informed by reference to international, governmental and NGO sources. CDC does not make investments in countries which are subject to UN sanctions. Specific issues may also be highlighted during due diligence into possible investments. The decision on whether to make a particular investment in a certain country will also be determined in part by whether acceptable labour practices will be able to be pursued and the investment will result in a positive benefit for the wider community.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the years of CDC Capital Partners service of (a) the chairman, (b) the Chief Executive, (c) each member of the Board of Directors and (d) each member of the Management Committee.

Clare Short: Information about the background and length of service of Directors and other members of the Management Committee was published in CDC Group plc's annual report for 2001. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what CDC Capital Partners' criteria are for sustainability by (a) sector and (b) country; and what steps are followed to (i) approve and (ii) reject investments.

Clare Short: Sustainability in the context of private sector investment combines a judgment about both an investee company's commercial viability and about social and environmental responsibility, so that the investment is not at the expense of people and the environment. This applies across investments in all sectors and countries. In the power sector, renewable energy sources are not always an option but CDC's strong preference is for cleaner fuels and every plant is committed to operating to international environmental standards.
	All potential investments are subject to a social and environmental review, whether internally or by external consultants. I refer the hon. Member to the reply to Question 67366 at columns 449–50W. Any social or environmental concerns are fully investigated and any necessary action plans put in place before the investment is made.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what representations her Department has received regarding CDC Capital Partners' investments in African smallholders since 1997;
	(2)  what representations have been made to her Department regarding the effectiveness of CDC Capital Partners' website;
	(3)  what representations her Department has received regarding CDC Capital Partners' procedures for measuring the (a) infrastructure and (b) employment effects of its investments;
	(4)  what representations have been made to her Department concerning hours worked per month by CDC Capital Partners' executives since 1997.

Clare Short: None.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if she will list the rate of return on each CDC Capital Partners' investment, broken down by sector, since 1997;
	(2)  if she will list the rate of return on each CDC Capital Partners' investment, by country, since 1997.

Clare Short: This information is commercially sensitive.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects to complete the privatisation of CDC Capital Partners.

Clare Short: In the current market conditions, the Government do not believe that it will be possible to sell a majority of CDC's shares in the near future at a price that represents good value for the development assistance programme. We are therefore exploring alternative ways to achieve the objective of the public-private partnership, to mobilise increased investment for the benefit of poorer developing countries.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) CDC Capital Partners' senior executives regarding the future tax position of CDC Capital Partners.

Clare Short: Extensive discussions took place in 1998 and early 1999 about the future tax position of CDC. Provisions for the future tax treatment of CDC were set out in Schedule 3 of the Commonwealth Development Corporation Act 1999.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Special Educational Needs

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many higher education institutions in England submitted successful bids under the Special Educational Needs Training and Development Fund 2002–03; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: The Special Educational Needs Training and Development Fund 2002–03 was established to provide one-off pump priming support to aid the creation of new, or extended, in-service training and development opportunities for teachers and other staff, both in mainstream and special schools, to help improve and reinforce skills in the area of special educational needs and disabilities. Under the fund, higher education institutions were invited to submit competitive bids, in the range of £50,000–100,000. There was a good response, with 41 individual bids received from 34 institutions. Within the £1 million available for allocation we have approved 16 bids from the following institutions:
	Bishop Grosseteste college, Lincoln
	Canterbury Christ Church university college
	Institute of Education University of London
	Leeds Metropolitan university
	Nottingham Trent university
	Sheffield Hallam university
	St. Martin's college of higher education, Lancaster
	Manchester Metropolitan university
	University of Birmingham
	University College Chichester
	University of Greenwich
	University of Surrey, Roehampton
	York St. John College, university of Leeds.
	The training and development opportunities will, in the main, be available either in the autumn of 2002 or the spring of 2003.
	In addition, a further £1 million has been also been allocated, under Strand 2 of the Department's SEN Small Programmes Fund 2002–03, in support of work by voluntary organisations, to produce a range of training resources for SEN and disabilities.

Individual Learning Accounts

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of ILA learning provider claims have been met since the closure of the Individual Learning Account programme.

Ivan Lewis: At the end of June 95 per cent. of Individual Learning Account learning provider claims had been paid since the closure on 23 November 2001.

Individual Learning Accounts

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what loss of public funds has been identified, and what frauds have been uncovered, in the work of learning providers using individual learning accounts.

Ivan Lewis: The loss to public funds will not be identified until investigations are complete. From the start of the programme to date £16.8 million has been withheld from 267 learning providers, subject to validation checking.
	The potential frauds under investigation are: funding removed from individual learning accounts (ILAs) without the account holder's consent; no, or incorrect, learning delivered; fictitious account holders created; and accessing account holders' details on the ILA Centre database—using information to claim funds or selling information to providers. In addition other abuses identified are: personal contribution not sought from the account holder; cash or other incentives offered to enrol on course; and ILA discounts claimed for ineligible learning.

Individual Learning Accounts

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of how many ILA learners have had to leave their courses because of the closure of individual learning accounts.

Ivan Lewis: We do not have information on the number of individual learning account holders who were in training at the point of closure of the ILA programme on 23 November 2001 and who subsequently may have been required to leave their courses.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Departmental Website

Bob Blizzard: To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to make changes to his Department's website.

Robin Cook: I am today re-launching my Department's website www.privycouncil.gov.uk.
	The website has been redesigned by XM London to better reflect my responsibilities as Leader of the House of Commons and also to give a better overview of the work of the Privy Council Office.
	New additions to the website include:
	News—will include the weekly Business Statement, briefings with the Lobby, recent statements, speeches and dates of forthcoming meetings of the Privy Council.
	Parliamentary Reform—information on the Government's Modernisation agenda for Parliament and details of my work to date on Commons Modernisation.
	Performance Standards—for my private office and more importantly a
	Search Engine.

TRANSPORT

Residential Property

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the empty residential properties in each London borough in the ownership of his Department and its agencies, giving (a) the type of accommodation, (b) how long each property has been vacant and (c) what the intended future use is of the property.

David Jamieson: The Department currently owns no empty residential properties in any of the London boroughs.

M4

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase the number of lanes on the M4 from London to Reading.

David Jamieson: holding answer 11 July 2002
	The capacity of the M4 motorway is currently being considered by the Thames Valley Multi Modal Study, which is expected to report in November.

Roads (Expenditure)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) public resource expenditure, (b) private resource expenditure and (c) private investment is provided under the 10-Year Plan for road maintenance by (i) local authorities and (ii) the Highways Agency, (A) at today's prices and (B) at outturn prices.

David Jamieson: Planned public resource expenditure on road maintenance over the period of the 10-Year Plan for Transport amounts to: £19.2 billion at today's (ie 2001–02) prices and £21.5 billion at outturn prices for local authorities; and £2.5 billion at today's prices and £2.8 billion at outturn prices for the Highways Agency.
	There is no planned private resource expenditure on road maintenance in the 10-Year Plan. There is no planned private investment on road maintenance on local roads.
	All of the Highways Agency's new build private finance schemes include a provision for maintenance in the contract. However it is not possible to identify separately a figure for this maintenance work.

Road Safety

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work has been conducted by and for his Department and predecessor Department to update the findings of the report entitled "Road Safety Strategy: Current problems and future options"; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: "Road Safety Strategy: Current problems and future options", published in October 1997, was a forerunner to the Government's current strategy document "Tomorrow's roads—safer for everyone", published in March 2000. Quarterly progress reports on implementing the new strategy are published on the Department's website.

Roads Circular

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place a copy of the Roads 2/92 Circular in the Library.

David Jamieson: Circular Roads 2–92 is already available in the Libraries of the House.

EU Public Service Requirement Regulation

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) discussions, (b) correspondence and (c) representations his Department has had with (i) the European Commission, (ii) the Council of Transport Ministers and (iii) Members of the European Parliament regarding the February 2002 draft EU Public Service Requirement Regulation; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3 July 2002, Official Report, column 359W.
	Additionally, officials from my Department have attended a number of council working groups where the Commission's proposals have been discussed and they have liaised with the Commission officials who have responsibility for the draft regulation.

EU Public Service Requirement Regulation

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place copies of the progress reports relating to the July 2000 European Commission Proposal for Regulation of Public Service Requirements (a) produced and (b) received by his Department in the Library.

David Jamieson: My Department has neither produced nor received written progress reports on the Commission's proposal. The progress reports that I referred to in my reply to the hon. Member of 3 July 2002, Official Report, column 359W, were given orally by the Commission.

European and International Business

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the role is of the division in his Department responsible for European and international business; if he will list the responsibilities of the posts within the division; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Within the Department for Transport, the Europe and International Division (EID) leads on European and international issues. EID is responsible for providing advice on the impact of EU affairs on DfT's policies as a whole; planning, preparation and support for the Minister for Transport at EU Transport Council; policy on EU horizontal or cross-cutting issues; and is a focal point for cross-cutting international issues.
	EID comprises a divisional manager and three branch heads responsible for particular areas. The head of Europe and International Branch, supported by five staff, provides advice and guidance to DfT on EU and international issues and developments, including EU enlargement; co-ordinates briefing and arrangements for ministerial committees, EU contacts, bilateral initiatives and visitors from overseas; and develops and promotes European awareness and expertise among DfT officials who deal with EU issues.
	The head of Transport Council Branch, supported by six staff, co-ordinates the UK position and briefing on EU Transport Council business; co-ordinates UK parliamentary scrutiny of EC transport legislation; monitors the transposition of EC transport directives; co-ordinates the response to infraction proceedings; co-ordinates transport briefing for UK MEPs and co-ordinates the Department's interest in the European Conference of Ministers of Transport and the Inland Transport Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
	The head of European Transport Policy Branch, supported by six staff, co-ordinates policy on EU cross-modal transport issues including the proposed extension of the working time directive to mobile workers in road transport, proposed regulations on land transport public service requirements, the EU Common Transport Policy, the integration of the environment into EU transport policy, charging for the use of transport infrastructure and also co-ordinates policy and negotiates UK funding in respect of the transport trans-European Network (TEN).
	Further information on the work of Europe and International Division can be found on the Department's website at www.dft.gov.uk/europe/index.htm.

Parliamentary Questions

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what occasions since 7 June 2001 he has asked the chief executives of the (a) Highways Agency, (b) DVLA, (c) DSA, (d) Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (e) Vehicle Certification Agency and (f) Vehicle Inspectorate to write to an hon. Member in response to a parliamentary question; under what guidance such decisions are made; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Where a written parliamentary question is about a matter assigned to an agency under the terms of its Framework Document, the responsible Minister normally asks the chief executive to provide the substantive reply to the hon. Member. This has been the practice for many years. Since 7 June 2001, about 90 parliamentary questions (less than 1 per cent. of the total) have been answered by a chief executive letter. The letters are published in the Official Report, in accordance with the guidance issued by the Cabinet Office in 1994.

Parliamentary Questions

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will answer the questions from the hon. Member for Maidenhead of 1 July 2002, concerning park and ride schemes and 2 July 2002, concerning Network Rail.

David Jamieson: The question concerning park and ride schemes was answered on 16 July 2002, Official Report, column 142W and the question concerning Network Rail on 17 July 2002, Official Report, column 327W.

New Road Schemes

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list new (a) Government funded and (b) other agency funded trunk road and bypass schemes which have been given approval and the expected start date in each case.

David Jamieson: The following lists all the schemes in the Government's targeted programme of improvements and when construction is planned to start. The actual date for the start of works for those schemes not already under construction is subject to the satisfactory completion of any remaining statutory procedures and the availability of funding.
	Completed
	A27 Polegate Bypass (opened June 2002)
	Under Construction
	A1 Willowburn-Denwick Improvement
	A5 Nesscliffe Bypass
	A6 Great Glen Bypass
	A6 Clapham Bypass
	A6 Rothwell—Desborough Bypass
	A11 Roudham Heath-Attleborough Dualling
	A41 Aston Clinton Bypass
	A46 Newark-Lincoln Improvement
	A43 Whitfield Turn—Brackley Hatch Improvement
	A43 Silverstone Bypass
	A43 M40-B4031 Dualling
	A63 Selby Bypass
	A66 Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass
	A120 Stansted—Braintree
	A500 Basford, Hough, Shavington Bypass
	A650 Bingley Relief Road
	A1033 Hedon Road Improvement, Hull
	2002–03
	A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor
	A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford
	A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass
	A6 Alvaston
	A10 Wadesmill—Colliers End Bypass
	A21 Lamberhurst Bypass
	A34 Chieveley/M4 J13 Improvement
	2003–04
	M25 J 12–15 Widening
	M60 J 5–8
	A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 1
	A5 Weeford—Fazeley Improvement
	A63 Melton Grade Separated Junction
	A249 Iwade—Queenborough Improvement
	A500 City Road/Stoke Road Junctions
	2004–05
	M6 Carlisle-Guardsmill
	A1 Peterborough—Blyth Grade Separated Junction
	A2 Bean—Cobham Widening Phase 2
	A14 Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction
	A30 Bodmin-Indian Queens Improvement
	A66 Temple Sowerby Bypass and Improvements at Winderwath
	A421 Great Barford Bypass
	2005–06
	M62 Junction 6 Improvement
	A2/A282 Dartford Improvement
	A3 Hindhead Improvement
	A11 Fiveways to Thetford Improvement
	A11 Attleborough Bypass Improvement
	A14 Haughley New Street—Stowmarket Improvement
	A38 Dobwalls Bypass
	A303 Stonehenge
	A595 Parton—Lillyhall Improvement
	A5117/A550 Deeside Park Junctions
	2006–07
	A1(M) Bramham—Wetherby
	A46 Newark—Widmerpool Improvement
	A47 Thorney Bypass
	A64 Rillington Bypass
	A419 Blunsdon Bypass
	A483 Pant—Llanymynech Bypass
	2007–08
	A1(M) Dishforth—Leeming
	A1(M) Leeming—Barton.
	The Highways Agency is also progressing a number of schemes partly or fully funded by developers. The following is a list of those costing over £5 million with the date on which construction is planned to start, where known to the Department.
	Under construction
	A120/M11 Stansted Slip Roads
	M62 J8 and J8–9 Widening
	M1 J15A Swan Valley
	A1 Newcastle Great Park
	2003–04
	M25 Heathrow Terminal 5 Spur Road
	Not known
	A13 M25—Lakeside Widening
	A19 Wolviston Second Samsung Access
	A428 Caxton Common—Hardwick
	M49 Intermediate Junction at Severnside
	M56 (J5) Manchester Airport Access.

London Bridge Railway Station

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of the 10 July 2002, Official Report, column 981W, on London Bridge railway station, if he will define the intended output given in his 10-year plan for additional capacity at London Bridge, at paragraph 6.72, page 71; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Railtrack's proposals for the Thameslink 2000 project include scope to raise the number of services calling at London Bridge to eighteen an hour in each direction, with the operation of 12-car trains.
	I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 11 July 2002, Official Report, column 1113W where I stated that the public inquiry Inspector's report into Railtrack's proposals is currently under consideration in the office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Air Traffic Control

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answers of 11 June 2002, Official Report, column 1134W and of 10 June 2002 to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban), Official Report, column 759W, on Swanwick, what statutory restrictions on the disclosure of information obtained by HSE in pursuance of its powers apply in relation to the HSE report on IT systems in operation at Swanwick.

David Jamieson: The statutory restrictions on the disclosure of information obtained by HSE in pursuance of its powers are set out in Section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. These restrictions apply in relation to HSE's report on the IT systems in operation at Swanwick.

Road Widening

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 220W, on road widening, what the total cost of the schemes referred to is; and what the cost of each scheme is.

David Jamieson: The total cost of the schemes listed in the answer to the question of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 220W is £809 million. The latest available cost of the individual schemes is as follows:
	
		
			 Road scheme £ million 
		
		
			 M25 Junctions 12–15 widening 94 
			 M60 Junctions 5–8 82 
			 A74(M) Carlisle to Guardsmill upgrading to motorway 65 
			 A1 Bramham to Wetherby 38 
			 A1 Dishforth to Leeming 125 
			 A1 Leeming to Barton 100 
			 A1 Willowburn to Denwick improvement(8) (8)8 
			 A2 Bean to Cobham widening phase 1 17 
			 A2 Bean to Cobham widening phase 2 74 
			 A11 Fiveways to Thetford improvement 34 
			 A11 Attleborough bypass improvement 14 
			 A11 Roudham Heath to Attleborough Dualling(8) (8)30 
			 A43 M40 to B4031 dualling 18 
			 A46 Newark to Lincoln improvement(8) (8)28 
			 A46 Newark to Widmerpool improvement 82 
		
	
	(8) Contract award figure

Television Advertising

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money his Department spent on each television advertising campaign in the last 12 months.

David Jamieson: The amount spent by the then DTLR on TV advertising for each of its campaigns in the last financial year was as follows:
	
		TV media spend: April 2001 to 2002(9)
		
			 Campaign £ million 
		
		
			 Road safety 5.11 
			 Fire safety(10) 2.40 
			 Traveline 0.12 
			  
			 Total 7.63 
		
	
	(9) Figures exclude VAT
	(10) Responsibility now with ODPM

Taxis

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effects on the public of GNER's decision to award sole rights to operate at Peterborough station to Taxibank;
	(2)  what plans he has to review legislation on access to transport termini by taxicabs.

David Jamieson: It is for GNER to ensure that its agreement with Taxibank meets the needs of its passengers. Access to taxi ranks at GNER's stations is a matter for that company. Exclusive contracts can bring significant benefits for passengers, including ensuring that taxis are always available at off-peak times and that certain standards of service are met. The Government are currently considering what taxi and private hire vehicle measures might be reformed through a regulatory reform order.

Secure Stations Scheme

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster), of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 208W, which stations have been accredited under the secure stations scheme in each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: I have placed in the Libraries of the House a list of stations which have been accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme in each of the last three full years. Also listed are stations, which have been accredited this year to June 2002.
	There are 149 stations accredited so far, which cover approximately one third of passenger journeys on the overground.

Rail Travel

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passenger kilometres were travelled on (a) strategic rail routes, (b) London and the South East, (c) regional networks, (d) intercity lines and (e) all routes, in each of the past three years.

David Jamieson: This information is set out in 'National Rail Trends,' published quarterly by the Strategic Rail Authority, most recently on 6 June. Copies are held in the Libraries of the House.

Bus Mileage

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the total local bus mileage was operated by tendered bus services in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: Information on the proportion of bus mileage operated through tendered services, comprising services run under contract to Transport for London, and socially necessary services subsidised by local authorities outside London, is shown in the following table. The commercial (deregulated) local bus mileage proportion is also shown. Outside London, the tendered services column includes some local authority contracts negotiated under "de minimis" rules with individual operators, although most are provided following competitive tendering.
	
		Percentage 
		
			  Commercial(11) Tendered 
		
		
			 England   
			 1996–97 73 27 
			 1997–98 72 28 
			 1998–99 72 28 
			 1999–2000 72 28 
			 2000–01 72 28 
			
			 England outside London   
			 1996–97 84 16 
			 1997–98 84 16 
			 1998–99 83 17 
			 1999–2000 84 16 
			 2000–01 84 16 
		
	
	(11) deregulated

Journey Times

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will explain the statement, on page 20, paragraph 48 of the 10-year plan background analysis, that improvements in journey times are expected to have almost a one for one impact on demand for the services concerned.

David Jamieson: The statement reflects standard railway industry modelling assumptions that changes in journey time have a demand elasticity of around unity. Therefore, on average, a one per cent. change in journey time is expected to result in a change in demand of approximately one per cent.

Customer Satisfaction Statistics

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rail customer satisfaction statistics he has collated for each quarter of each of the last four years, relating to (a) overall satisfaction, (b) punctuality satisfaction, (c) reliability satisfaction, (d) frequency of trains satisfaction, (e) value for money satisfaction, (f) station quality satisfaction and (g) train information provision satisfaction.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has conducted a twice yearly national on-train passenger satisfaction survey since Autumn 1999. Results are reported at national and individual Train Operating Company level and are published in the SRA's 'On Track' publication in June and December each year. The most recent results were published on 6 June 2002.
	The latest publication and earlier editions are already available in the Libraries of the House and can also be found on the SRA's web site: "www.sra.gov.uk".

Tendered Bus Services

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of recent trends in the costs of contracts for tendered bus services.

David Jamieson: My Department commissioned last year a three-year research project into trends in tendered bus services including tender prices. Recent interim findings indicate rises in real terms in prices of around 20 per cent., as compared with the last time (typically two or three years ago) when the contracts surveyed were offered. This is in line with the findings of the annual survey conducted by the Association of Transport Co-ordination Officers. There are however significant variations within this overall figure. Our research will be published in due course.

Rail Accident Investigation Body

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish proposals for the setting up of an independent rail accident investigation body; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Darling: We have today published our proposals for the establishment of an independent rail accident investigation branch. Copies of the document are in the Libraries of the House. The consultation exercise will run for 12 weeks from today. The responses will help us to ensure that the right provisions are written into the draft primary legislation that we shall in due course put before Parliament.

Illegal Fuel

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what facilities in the supply of illegal fuel are estimated to exist in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no estimates available for the number of illicit fuel laundering plants in the UK.

Illegal Fuel

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of fuel in the UK fuel market is illegally produced; and what targets have been set for reducing this market share.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	Latest estimates of the size of the non-UK paid oils market were set out in "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud", published alongside the 2001 pre-Budget report. Budget 2002 set out a comprehensive strategy to tackle all aspects of the problem of oils fraud, without which the illicit share of the UK diesel market would have risen by 8 per cent. to 2004–05.
	This strategy will reduce that market share to 2 per cent. and save around £550 million against the pre-Budget revenue by 2004–05.

TREASURY

Working Family/Children's Tax Credit

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are benefiting from the (a) working family tax credit and (b) children's tax credit in the Mitcham and Morden constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: At February this year 1,697 families in the Mitcham and Morden constituency were benefiting from the working families tax credit.
	It is estimated that 475,000 families in the London area are eligible for children's tax credit. I regret information is not available at constituency level.

Child Poverty

Michael Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of his Department's measures to tackle child poverty in Worcester.

Dawn Primarolo: All 12,000 families with children in Worcester will have benefited from the increases in child benefit since 1997; increases of 25 per cent. in real terms for the first child. Around 90 per cent. of families will be eligible for the child tax credit, which together with child benefit, for those earning £50,000 or less, will deliver a minimum of £26.50 and up to £54.25 a week in support for the first child from April 2003.

Inheritance Tax

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to amend inheritance tax.

Paul Boateng: My right hon. Friend's plans for this year are reflected in the Finance Bill.

Inheritance Tax

John Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the threshold of inheritance tax to recognise the increased proportion of most personal estates represented by the family home.

Dawn Primarolo: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer reviews the threshold every year, and has increased it this year by more than required by statutory indexation.

Public Sector Housing

Bill Rammell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on planned public sector housing investment levels for the next three years.

Paul Boateng: By 2005–06, investment in housing will have more than doubled in real terms from the levels we inherited in 1997.

Productivity

Tom Harris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures the Government are taking to improve productivity in British industry.

Paul Boateng: The Government have set out a comprehensive strategy for raising productivity across the economy. The Government's approach centres around maintaining macroeconomic stability to allow businesses and individuals to invest for the future and implementing microeconomic reforms to address the barriers that prevent markets from functioning efficiently. The Government's reforms target five key areas that can affect the rate of productivity growth—competition, enterprise and innovation, skills, investment and the productivity of public services.
	Budget 2002 and the 2002 Spending Review take forward a wide range of measures to address historic weaknesses in each of these areas.

Charitable Organisations (VAT)

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the rates of VAT applicable to charitable organisations.

John Healey: While charities already benefit from a range of special VAT reliefs, we remain alive to opportunities to modernise and update the VAT system for charities.

Health Outputs

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on what targets he has set for health outputs from the Spending Review.

Paul Boateng: Targets for health outputs were published in the new Department of Health Public Service Agreement on Monday 15 July.

International Debt Arbitration

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on his proposed international debt arbitration procedure for the resolution of current and future sovereign debt crises.

John Healey: The Government have been at the forefront in calling for a more effective mechanism for sovereign debt restructuring to be established, to ensure that the burden of adjustment during a crisis is not placed unfairly on the poor and most vulnerable. At the Spring Meetings of the IMFC and G7, the international community agreed to take forward work to develop a new approach to sovereign debt restructuring, to facilitate greater private sector involvement and to improve the framework for crisis resolution. The IMF is currently assessing the various options that may be available for achieving this and the G7 is implementing an Action Plan, which was agreed at the Spring Meeting, towards this objective. The Government welcomes these efforts and continues to take an active role in the developments.

Global Poverty

Huw Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to meet G8 Finance Ministers to discuss the reduction of poverty in developing countries.

John Healey: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) earlier today.

Global Poverty

Ross Cranston: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made through World bank/IMF action in tackling global poverty.

John Healey: Tackling global poverty is central to the activities of the World bank and the IMF, and both institutions are committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
	Macroeconomic stability is a pre-condition of poverty reduction, and the IMF plays a lead role in creating the conditions for stability and growth in the global economy, and the prevention and resolution of financial crisis. In recent years the World bank and the IMF have adopted a new country-led approach to poverty reduction, where developing countries prepare Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers in consultation with civil society. As part of this, the UK is seeking to ensure that the institutions collaborate to include poverty and social impact assessments of the policy choices available to developing country authorities.
	Poverty rates have declined in most parts of the world, and recent projections by the World bank show that it is possible to achieve the poverty reduction goal in most regions if growth in per capita income accelerates to an average of 3.6 per cent. a year.

Global Poverty

Eric Joyce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress made by the G7/G8 countries in respect of tackling debt in the developing world.

John Healey: The UK continues to be at the forefront of the international debate on debt relief issues, and continues to press for the rapid and full implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. We were pleased to have achieved the recent announcement of an extra US$1 billion for the HIPC initiative at the G8 summit in Kananaskis and the agreement of leaders to take action to secure the participation of all creditors, to complete the financing of the initiative and to address the issue of debt sustainability at completion point.
	Full details of the commitments on HIPC agreed to at the summit can be found in the document, "Statement by G7 Leaders: Delivering on the Promise of the Enhanced HIPC Initiative", which is available at http://www.g8.gc.ca

Public Sector Capital Investment

Andrew Selous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect a 1 per cent. change in the growth forecast for the United Kingdom economy for 2002–03 would have on public sector capital investment.

Paul Boateng: A change in the growth forecast for 2002–03 would have no direct effect on public sector capital investment. The majority of capital expenditure is covered by departmental expenditure limits (DEL). Firm limits for DEL for 2002–03 were set in the 2000 Spending Review.

Pension Funds

Julian Brazier: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the assessment he has made of the effects of his policies on pensions funds.

Ruth Kelly: The Government have introduced reforms that have delivered and will continue to deliver a stable economic environment based on low levels of inflation and sustainable growth. This environment is designed to benefit all investors, including pension providers, because it supports longer-term investment and planning.

House Prices

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what economic instruments he has to moderate the rise in house prices, with specific reference to the south-east of England.

Ruth Kelly: The Government are designing planning, housing and transport reforms to promote economic growth in every region and balanced growth across the UK.

House Prices

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England on the level of house prices.

Ruth Kelly: The Chancellor and the Governor of the Bank of England have regular discussions on a range of economic issues.

Annuities

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy on annuities.

Ruth Kelly: The consultation document, Modernising Annuities, published jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions in February, provoked considerable interest and strong feedback. I am today placing in the Library a summary of the responses.
	The feedback confirmed that individuals need to be better informed about their annuity purchase. It is clear that many people could improve their retirement income if, at retirement, they were able to select the right annuity for their personal circumstances. It would be in their best interest to look for the best rate in the marketplace, which is not necessarily from the same financial institution that helped them save for retirement. The Government are working with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and providers to ensure that people are able to make the right choices at the right time. One specific idea under consideration is encouraging the provision of information and advice through the work place.
	As the consultation document explains, there is no case for abandoning the requirement that people should buy a lifetime annuity by age 75. This rule ensures that they can take advantage of insurance pooling to make efficient use of their pension savings.
	Without prejudicing this rule and consistent with the principles outlined in the consultation document, the Government plan to bring forward powers to make it possible to offer people buying annuities more choice and flexibility. The aim will be to empower people approaching retirement to make the right choices for their circumstances by encouraging competition and transparency in the market for annuities. It will be important that this liberalisation dovetails with simplification and other reforms being considered in the pensions Green Paper this autumn.

Net Cash Requirement

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the accounting principles underlying the net cash requirement.

Paul Boateng: For those bodies classified by the Office for National Statistics to the appropriate sector in national accounts, the net cash requirement represents the sums borrowed by those bodies, in cash, from outside that sector, plus interest capitalising on certain of those borrowings. Full details of how the net cash requirement is measured and its relation to other measures of borrowing and debt are given in "Monthly statistics on public sector finances: a methodological guide" (No. 12 in the Government Statistical Service Methodology Series).

Small Enterprises (Tax Burden)

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the tax burden on small enterprises.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's aim is to make Britain one of the most competitive environments for business in the world—since 1997 the Government have cut the corporate tax bills of small companies by around 30 per cent., rewarding the entrepreneurial spirit and promoting growth. The Government have introduced numerous measures to help small enterprises since 1997, including:
	taking forward the recommendations of the Carter Review of Payroll Services;
	cutting the small companies rate of corporation tax from 23 per cent. to 19 per cent. and introducing a starting rate which we are now cutting from 10 per cent. to zero;
	introducing a 10p starting rate of income tax;
	making 40 per cent. first year capital allowances permanent; and
	introducing measures to ease the impact of VAT on small business.

Dividend Tax Credits

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the impact of dividend tax credits on the level of savings.

Ruth Kelly: No such assessment has been made. The abolition of payable tax credits was part of a wider reform of corporate taxation, including lower rates of corporation tax, designed to foster economic growth and in time generate better rates of return for savers and investors generally.

South-West Economy

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what analysis his Department has undertaken on the impact of the slowdown in the world economy on the (a) manufacturing, (b) service and (c) tourism economies of the south-west of England.

John Healey: The Government closely monitors and assesses the sectoral incidence of economic developments in all countries and regions of the UK, including the south-west.
	The Government's assessment of the impact of last year's global slowdown on the UK economy was published in the pre-Budget report 2001 (ISBN 0–10–153182–6) and in Budget 2002 (ISBN 0–10–291477-X).

Alternative Fuels

David Chaytor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial incentives he has made available for the development of alternative fuels for motor vehicles.

John Healey: The Government has introduced a wide range of incentives for the development and use of alternative fuels for motor vehicles, ranging from fuel duty incentives for alternative fuels to the tax credit for general research and development. These measures include:
	company cars using alternative fuels and technologies, such as road fuel gases, receive discounts on their company car tax. This is expressed as a discount calculated on a percentage of the car's list price;
	alternative fuelled cars first registered from March 2001 attract up to a £10 discount per year on their rate of vehicle excise duty;
	Budget 2002 announced a 20p per litre duty differential between biodiesel and ultra low sulphur diesel;
	the duty on road fuel gases is set at 9p per kilogramme;
	the Government has granted fuel duty exemptions to pilot projects for research into hydrogen, biogas and methanol under the Green Fuel Challenge and has also invited bids for more duty exemptions or reductions in more pilot projects;
	R and D tax credits have been introduced for small companies in 2000 and extended to all companies in 2002. These credits reduce the after-tax cost of R and D, including R and D directed towards new alternative fuel technologies; and
	the Department for Transport has allocated £10 million this year to each of the Powershift and CleanUp programmes it administers. The Powershift programme offers grants for the conversion of existing vehicles to road fuel gases and electricity and the CleanUp programme offers grants to purchase new vehicles fuelled by road fuel gases and electricity.

Council Tax

Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate his Department has made of the proportion of income paid in council tax by (a) the poorest quintile of households and (b) the richest quintile of households.

Paul Boateng: The information requested can be found in table 3 of the analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2000–01" in the May issue of Economic Trends. The information is based on the Family Expenditure Survey.

Performance Targets

John Butterfill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the research he commissioned in connection with performance targets to inform his decisions on the Spending Review.

Paul Boateng: Performance against Public Service Agreement targets was one of the factors taken into account when making decisions on resources and reform in the Spending Review.

Performance Targets

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in improving public services through public service agreements.

Paul Boateng: The Treasury, reporting against target 7 of its own PSA on page 67 of its 2002 departmental report, included and overall assessment of Departments' progress against their PSA targets.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Michael Clapham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Financial Services Compensation Scheme acquired its powers and responsibilities under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 on 1 December 2001. Since then it has been an important part of the overall framework of consumer protection provided under the Act.

Crown Estates Commissioners (Scotland)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about the role of the Crown Estates Commissioners in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 16 July 2002
	I have received no recent representations about the role of the Crown Estate Commissioners in Scotland.

EU Membership

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of membership of the EU to the UK in the last year for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: Details of the estimated outturn for the United Kingdom's net contribution to the EC Budget in 2001–02 were set out in the answer which my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Barbara Follett) on 10 June 2002, Official Report, columns 835–37W. Estimates of the trend in the United Kingdom's net contribution to the EC Budget for the period 2002–03 to 2005–06 are shown at footnote 4 to Table A.2 (page 165) of the Spending Review 2002 (Cm 5570) published on 15 July.

Poverty

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the measures he has introduced to tackle poverty in disadvantaged areas.

John Healey: Spending Review 2002 reinforced our commitment to improving public services in disadvantaged areas—more jobs, better results in schools, improved health, safer and cleaner neighbourhoods—with Departments being held accountable for delivering improvements through their Public Service Agreement targets.

Occupational Pension Schemes

Anthony Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what incentives he provides to encourage employers to offer occupational pension schemes for their employees.

Ruth Kelly: Employers get tax and National Insurance relief to encourage them to offer occupational pensions schemes for their employees.
	Employer contributions to occupational pension schemes are normally exempt from corporation tax. And, where the scheme is contracted-out of SERPS, the employer pays a lower rate of National Insurance contributions.

Customs (Scotland)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs staff were employed in Scotland in each year since 1995.

John Healey: The total number of full-time equivalent staff employed by Customs and Excise in Scotland since 1995 is as follows:
	1995: 1,589
	1996: 1,507
	1997: 1,355
	1998: 1,413
	1999: 1,376
	2000: 1,324
	2001: 1,259
	2002: 1,185
	Note:
	All figures are for the financial year to 1 April.

Five Pound Notes

Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why some of the new 'Elizabeth Fry' five pound notes had serial numbers which rubbed off; and when the Bank of England plans to start reissuing the new note.

Ruth Kelly: The Bank of England suspended issuance of the new Elizabeth Fry five pound note after it was discovered that, on some notes, it was possible to remove part or all of the serial numbers, when the note was rubbed vigorously. The problem was traced to unexpectedly slow drying of the numbering ink on some of the notes, when the numbers were printed over the new varnish coating. This varnish had been introduced to make the note more durable. In future the Bank will put the varnish over the numbering, as tests have shown that this solves the problem. The notes already printed will undergo extensive drying treatment to ensure that the numbering ink dries thoroughly.
	The Bank plans to resume issuing the new note in the week commencing 19 August 2002 and is announcing this today.
	The total cost of finding and solving this problem amount to less than £250,000 (or approximately half of one per cent. of the annual costs of note issue and production). The Bank is looking to find cost savings elsewhere in note production to ensure that the taxpayer does not suffer any loss of revenue.

Euro Preparations

Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on euro preparations.

Gordon Brown: As I said in my Mansion House speech in June 2002, our decision on the euro is of immense, historic importance to the long term future of our economy and our country as a whole. In 1997 we set out the case in principle for the single currency, and said that the determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership is the national economic interest, and whether the economic case is clear and unambiguous.
	As part of our commitment to prepare and decide, the Government are continuing work on EMU preparations—in partnership with business—to ensure that the UK has a genuine option to join the euro if that is what Government, Parliament and the people, in a referendum, decide.
	I am today depositing in the Libraries of both Houses a copy of the Sixth Progress Report on Euro Preparations. The report describes the changeover to the euro in the euro area and sets out lessons from the euro area changeover.
	It also sets out what Government and partners are doing to raise awareness of the potential impact on UK businesses and gives an update on planning for possible UK entry.
	Alongside the Sixth Progress Report on Euro Preparations, I am also laying a report on the changeover in the euro area which was commissioned by the Standing Committee from the Private Sector Learning Group.

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when the EU Committee on recovery of claims is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when the EU Committee on excise duties is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when the EU Advisory Committee on value added tax is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on duty-free arrangements is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on tariff quotas is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  when the EU Committee on administrative cooperation in the field of indirect taxation, including the Fiscalis programme (SCAC): anti-fraud (SCAF) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on origin is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(8)  when the EU Customs 2002 Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(9)  when the EU Customs Code Committee on tariff and statistical nomenclature is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(10)  when the EU Committee on administrative cooperation in the field of indirect taxation, including the Fiscalis programme (SCAC): information technology (SCIT) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(11)  when the EU Committee on mutual assistance for the recovery of claims is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement;
	(12)  when the EU Committee on administrative co-operation in the field of indirect taxation, including the Fiscalis programme (SCAC): training (SCAT) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The following table indicates when the various EU Committees are next due to meet:
	
		
			 EU Committee(12) Next meeting 
		
		
			 Tariff Quotas (13)9 or 10 September 2002 
			 Training (SCAT) (14)— 
			 Customs 2002 (13)September or October 2002 
			 Duty-Free Arrangements (14)— 
			 Mutual Assistance—Recovery of Claims 31 July 2002 
			 Excise Duties (13)November 2002 
			 Tariff and Statistical 5 and 6 September 2002 
			 Origin (13)16 or 17 September 2002 
			 Value Added Tax (13)November 2002 
			 Information Technology (SCIT) 2 November 2002 
		
	
	(12) The Anti-Fraud Committee (SCAF) was dissolved on 29 May 2002. There is no EU VAT or Customs Committee on the recovery of claims other than that on mutual assistance.
	(13) Date yet to be finalised.
	(14) Not yet set.
	The UK is normally represented by one or two officials from HM Customs and Excise on each of these Committees. The Customs delegates at these Committees represent all of the UK.

Online Tax Return Services

Stuart Bell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Treasury is reconsidering the strategy of Government and the private sector performing the functions of tax return preparer on the Internet as direct e-commerce service providers to consumers.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue continues to encourage third parties to provide e-filing products alongside the free Inland Revenue product, SA Online.

Online Tax Return Services

Stuart Bell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Treasury intends to revise its strategy of providing online tax return services where such services can be provided by the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue have no plans to withdraw their electronic self assessment product, SA Online. 88 per cent. of customers using the Internet Service for Self Assessment used the Inland Revenue product last year.

Online Tax Return Services

Stuart Bell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Treasury's proposed investment in the Inland Revenue's internet self-assessment programme is for (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004, including its marketing and advertising budget; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The proposed investment in the Inland Revenue's self assessment programme for 2002 is £7 million. The marketing and communications budget for 2002 which covers the marketing and advertising of e-filing is £2 million.
	Our plans for 2003 onwards are still being considered.

National Insurance

Tim Boswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff of the Contributions Agency are employed on soliciting national insurance contributions for non-employed persons currently resident abroad; at what cost in the last year for which figures are available; and what the average annual revenue from such overseas residents was over the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available.

Commonwealth Education Fund

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his press release of 26 June on the Commonwealth education fund, under which expenditure heading of which Department matching funding for Sports Relief fund-raising appears; what his provisional estimate of expenditure under this heading is; and whether such matched funding represents net additional Government expenditure which would not have occurred in the above of Sports Relief's activities.

John Healey: Matching funds provided by the Government to Sports Relief will be disbursed through the Department for International Development and will form part of DFID's development assistance spending on education. Based on provisional estimates provided by Sports Relief, DFID is expecting to provide up to £4.4 million to support Sports Relief's education projects in Commonwealth developing countries.
	The matched funding provided to Sports Relief represents net additional Government expenditure, and is additional to the provision made for DFID in 2002–03 and 2003–04.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Gibraltar

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received from the citizens of Gibraltar about the future status of their territory;
	(2)  what measures his Department has undertaken to collect the views of (a) citizens of Gibraltar and (b) the elected local representatives of those citizens regarding negotiations with Spain;
	(3)  what recent representations his Department has received regarding the views of (a) citizens of Gibraltar and (b) the elected local representatives of those citizens regarding negotiations with Spain.

Peter Hain: holding answer 17 July 2002
	I visited Gibraltar on 6 September and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Gibraltar on 3 May. We both met a wide range of citizens and local representatives, many of whom I have also subsequently met during their visits to London. We remain in regular contact with the Chief Minister in writing and through the Governor of Gibraltar.
	As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in the House on 12 July 2002, Official Report, column 1167, we have wanted the Chief Minister of Gibraltar at the Brussels Process talks. The Chief Minister has been invited to all three Brussels Process meetings since the Process was relaunched in July 2001. He has chosen not to attend. That offer still stands under the long-standing "two flags three voices" formula. Both we and Spain want the Government and people of Gibraltar to be fully engaged in talks about their own future.

International Criminal Court

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts with regard to the United States Government's position on the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was in close contact with his European counterparts in the period leading up to the unanimous adoption by the UN Security Council, on 12 July, on the International Criminal Court.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Advertising

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the expenditure was per campaign for the five most expensive media advertising campaigns her Department undertook in the past five parliamentary Sessions including the current parliamentary Session in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland; and, for the last two parliamentary Sessions and the current Session, when each advertising campaign (i) began and (ii) ended in (A) England, (B) Wales and (C) Northern Ireland.

Elliot Morley: As DEFRA did not exist prior to June 2001, information on expenditure for previous years is unavailable. DEFRA centralised publicity expenditure is not recorded in the format requested.
	Supporting the eradication of the foot and mouth disease outbreak overshadowed all normal DEFRA media campaign activity during the financial year 2001–02. The Department chose to focus its publicity activities on poster campaigns, events, shows, publications and direct targeted mailings.
	Separate to the foot and mouth crisis, one major advertising campaign was launched. This was the 'Your Countryside, You're Welcome' campaign which cost £250,000.
	Centralised DEFRA publicity expenditure by geographical territory for the financial year 2001–02 is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 England 688,907 
			 England and Wales 421,855 
			 United Kingdom 2,209,319 
			  
			 Total 3,320,081

Advertising

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the publicity and advertising campaigns run by her Department in each of the last four years, specifying the (a) purpose, (b) cost to public funds, (c) number of staff involved and (d) method of evaluation in each case.

Elliot Morley: As DEFRA was created in June 2001; information prior to this date is unavailable.
	The purpose of any DEFRA publicity or advertising campaign is determined by the Department's aims and objectives. In the financial year 2001–02, DEFRA's centralised publicity expenditure was £3.5 million. A list of publicity activities including advertising is as follows: the items shown include campaigns, events and literature.
	The average number of staff in the publicity section of DEFRA's communications directorate is 20.
	Publicity and advertising campaigns for financial year 2001–02
	Corporate publicity campaign
	Action Plan for Farming material
	'Countryside Matters' campaign
	State Veterinary Journal (recruitment advertising)
	Pet Travel Scheme material
	Fruit Focus 2001 event
	The East of England Show 2001
	The Game Fair 2001
	The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2001
	The Tatton Park Flower Show 2001
	BBC TV Gardeners' World Live 2001 event
	Countryside Stewardship Letter
	DEFRA Touring Exhibition
	Agenda 2000 and Rural Payments Agency (CAP)
	Literature
	Arable Area Payments Scheme literature
	Beef Special Premium Scheme literature
	Hill Farm Allowances literature
	Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) literature
	Sheep Annual Premium Scheme literature
	Sheep Annual Premium Scheme Quotas literature
	Suckler Cow Premium Scheme literature
	Agricultural Wages Board literature
	Arable Stewardship Scheme literature
	Countryside Stewardship Scheme literature
	Environmentally Sensitive Areas literature
	EAGGF Objective 1 (CAP scheme) literature
	EAGGF (Objective 5B and Leader II Programme CAP schemes) literature
	Farm Waste Grant (Nitrate Vulnerable Zone) Scheme literature
	Farm Woodland Premium Scheme literature
	Flock Record Book/Herd Register material
	Habitat Scheme literature
	Organic Conversion Information Service literature
	Organic Farming Scheme literature
	Pet Passport Certificates
	Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme literature
	Producer Organisations Aid Scheme literature
	Rural Development Regulations literature
	Scrapie National Plan literature
	Slaughter Premium Scheme literature
	Extensification Payments Scheme literature
	England Rural Development Programme material
	Energy Crops Scheme literature
	Hill Farm Allowance Scheme literature
	Processing and Marketing Scheme literature
	Rural Enterprises Scheme material
	Vocational Training Scheme literature
	Agricultural Wages Board literature
	Landscape (Staff Magazine) re-design
	Managing Stress Booklet
	Modernising Government Booklet
	'Leader Plus' staff development project literature
	Stewardship Newsletter
	Environment R and D Newsletter
	Flood Defence Newsletter
	Good Agricultural Practice Codes.

Asbestos

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the level of water supply in the UK carried through blue asbestos pipes.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The principal asbestos constituent of water supply pipes has been white asbestos. No water supply in the UK is carried through pipes constructed in blue asbestos, although traces of blue and brown asbestos are likely to have been present in the white asbestos construction materials.
	Regional use of asbestos cement water supply pipes varied considerably but approximately 10 per cent. of existing pipes in the UK are believed to consist of that material.
	The World Health Organisation included an opinion on asbestos cement pipes in their 1993 edition of "Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality". The guidelines include the following statement "Although well studied, there has been little convincing evidence of the carcinogenicity of ingested asbestos in epidemiological studies of populations with drinking water supplies containing high concentrations of asbestos. Moreover in extensive studies in animal species, asbestos has not consistently increased the incidence of tumours of the gastrointestinal tract."

Correspondence

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Milton Keynes, South-West of 21 October and 13 December 2001, pursuant to her oral statement of 18 October 2001, Official Report, column 1288.

Elliot Morley: A response was sent on 21 January 2002.

Correspondence

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many letters were received by each Minister in her Department in each month since June 1997.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA was created on 8 June 2001.
	The number of letters received by each Minister from hon. Members in each month since June 2001 is detailed in the table.
	
		
			  Month Margaret Beckett Michael Meacher Alun Michael Elliot Morley Lord Whitty 
		
		
			 June 2001 148 44 9 36 20 
			 July 2001 454 185 116 86 64 
			 August 2001 486 213 58 107 72 
			 September 2001 236 236 77 95 109 
			 October 2001 174 197 115 115 199 
			 November 2001 205 246 111 187 69 
			 December 2001 141 154 49 108 68 
			 January 2002 256 322 91 266 86 
			 February 2002 271 480 91 161 64 
			 March 2002 341 332 106 430 89 
			 April 2002 323 309 131 209 72 
			 May 2002 302 212 120 309 70 
			 June 2002 288 141 68 168 58 
			 July 2002(15) 173 91 28 136 46 
			 Total 3,798 3,162 1,170 2,413 1,086 
			 Grand total 11,629  
		
	
	(15) Up to 12 July
	In addition, over the same period, the Department received a further 886 letters from other Government Departments that had originally been sent to them for reply rather than DEFRA Ministers.
	Information on the number of other letters received by each Minister would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Correspondence

Peter Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will respond to the representations of the hon. Member for Hexham of 2 January on cattle passports.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 2 July 2002
	We have no record of receiving the hon. Member's letter of 2 January.

Livestock Movements (Cumbria)

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to remove the 20-day restriction on the movement of livestock in Cumbria.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 27 June 2002
	The 20-day standstill rule is backed by firm scientific and veterinary advice. A number of exceptions to the standstill have been permitted, subject to veterinary advice, where other risk mitigation measures can be operated.
	The Government are in dialogue with industry stakeholders about the economic impact of the standstill and to assess whether it should be retained in the short and medium-term. No decisions will be made prior to publication of the FMD inquiry reports.

London Underground

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been carried out by her Department into air pollution within the London underground system and its effects on the health of London Underground staff and passengers; and if she will place a copy of the research in the Library.

Michael Meacher: The Government's Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) is currently considering the findings of a recent review of the existing evidence on the possible health impacts of exposure to dust within the London underground. The review, "Dust in the London Underground: a review of the health implications of exposure to tunnel dust", which was carried out on behalf of London Underground Ltd. (LUL), considers the extent to which London Underground staff and passengers are exposed to dust, and the possible health impacts. Copies are available from the London Underground website at: http://www.thetube.com/content/ pressreleases/0110/31.asp#dust.
	COMEAP are expected to comment on the review shortly, and their comments will be available via their website (www.doh.gov.uk/comeap) in due course.

London Underground

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which pollutants are monitored within the London underground system; and what the recorded levels of each were in the last five years.

Michael Meacher: London Underground Ltd. monitors levels of a number of pollutants in the underground system to ensure that the exposure limits prescribed in health and safety legislation are adhered to. The results of this monitoring are not held centrally, but are summarised together with an analysis of the possible health impacts in a recent review carried out on behalf of London Underground Ltd: "Dust in the London Underground: a review of the health implications of exposure to tunnel dust". Copies of this review are available via the London Underground website at: http://www.thetube.com/content/ pressreleases/0110/31.asp#dust'

London Underground

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who has responsibility for monitoring air quality within the London Underground system; and what controls are in place to ensure air quality in the London Underground system adheres to national standards.

Michael Meacher: Air quality in the London Underground system is required to meet occupational exposure limits as required by Health and Safety legislation. Guidance notes, issued under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, prescribe maximum occupational exposure limits for a variety of pollutants, including all of the pollutants covered by the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, published in January 2000. Details of the limits for each pollutant are available from the Health and Safety Executive. London Underground Limited (LUL) are responsible for ensuring that these limits are adhered to. LUL are in the process of developing an air quality monitoring standard, which would set out the monitoring arrangements and requirements in the Underground system. To date, all monitoring carried out during operational hours has indicated that levels of all pollutants are below the prescribed occupational exposure limits.

Road Traffic Pollution

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards the goal of halving emissions of pollutants from road traffic from the 1997 levels by 2010.

Michael Meacher: Emissions of air pollutants from road transport have fallen significantly since the beginning of the 1990s, despite traffic growth. This is largely the result of the progressively tighter new vehicle and fuel standards introduced over this period by the European Union. Our latest modelled estimates show that by 2001, total national emissions of oxides of nitrogen and particles from road transport (two of the air pollutants of most concern) had dropped to 77 per cent. and 74 per cent. respectively of their 1997 levels. By 2010, they are projected to fall to 41 per cent. and 44 per cent. respectively of their 1997 levels. These further reductions are forecast to come about partly because older, more polluting vehicles will be gradually phased out of the UK fleet, and partly because of the even more stringent EU emissions standards for new vehicles which will apply from 2005.

Energy Efficiency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many buildings her Department has made cheaper to keep warm through the installation of energy efficiency measures since December 1998.

Michael Meacher: Since the creation of DEFRA in June 2001, over 280,000 households in England have been assisted through the Government's Warm Front Scheme, which provides a mix of insulation and heating measures to eligible households.
	The Department also funds the Energy Saving Trust to encourage the sustainable use of energy in the domestic and small business sectors through advertising programmes, provision of advice and endorsement of energy efficient products. The Energy Efficiency Advice Centres, which are funded by the Trust, report some 345,500 households in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have installed at least one energy efficiency measures as a result of advice from those Centres since June 2001. It should be noted that some of those homes will have been assisted through Warm Front and similar schemes in Northern Ireland and Wales.
	The Trust also funded the HECAction scheme to assist local authorities to fulfil their responsibilities under the Home Energy Conservation Act. Under this scheme an estimated 18,500 energy efficiency measures have been installed across England, with some households having received more than one measure.

Milk Industry

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of the break-up of Milk Marque.

Elliot Morley: There has been no formal assessment; it would be difficult to separate the effects of this action from other influences on the market. However, since Milk Marque decided to break itself up, its successors (Zenith, Axis Milk and Milklink) have proved to be dynamic players in the sector.

Milk Industry

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about the sustainability of UK milk production at current price levels.

Elliot Morley: For many, the current prices being achieved are clearly unsustainable in the longer term. They are back to the levels seen in 2000. The reasons for this appear many and varied but one—the unusually high early season peak of production that put a strain on processing capacity—should now be behind us. The recent strengthening of the euro against sterling should also have a beneficial effect once it has worked through.

Teaching (Environment and Conservation)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial resources and support is being put into teaching children at school about the environment and conservation in the current financial year.

Michael Meacher: Through the Environmental Action Fund, the Department funds a range of projects providing educational materials and other support which can be used by teachers and children. Many of the projects in the current programme of £4.2 million are relevant in varying degrees to young people's understanding and awareness of environmental issues both in and outside school, but it is not possible to assign specific amounts to the schools element.
	In addition, the Department has, with the Department for Education and Skills and the devolved Administrations, funded and supported the World Wildlife Fund school initiative, the Our World Project, in the run up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. A schools 'makeover' competition and internet debates have offered pupils of all ages the opportunity to engage with key sustainable development issues.
	All pupils between the ages of five and 16 study the national curriculum in maintained schools in England. Environment and conservation are covered within a range of subjects including science, geography and citizenship. The Department for Education and Skills is funding web-based resources to support teachers on sustainable development issues.
	Sustainable development in schools has also been addressed by the Government's Sustainable Development Education Panel, which is jointly supported by my Department and the Department for Education and Skills.

Waste

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on plans for local authority utilisation of duty of care provisions in the waste movement field.

Michael Meacher: As part of the local public service agreement initiative, some local authorities have argued that to assist their ability to combat fly tipping, they should be given the power that the Environment Agency has to require companies and individuals to provide the Agency with copies of the duty of care paperwork which these companies and individuals are required to maintain. This proposal is supported by the fly tipping stakeholders' forum. The Government are currently seeking the views of key stakeholders not represented on the forum, but who may be affected, with a view to making the necessary legislative change as soon as possible.

Livestock Premium Quota

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers successfully applied for reinstatement of quota which was withdrawn by the Agenda 2000 Suckler Cow Premium Scheme quota cut on the grounds that they qualified under an extensification scheme in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) the UK.

Elliot Morley: Under the Agenda 2000 Suckler Cow Quota Cut Exercise, four extensification reinstatement applications were received from farmers in Gloucestershire, none of which were successful. In the United Kingdom as a whole, a total of 83 extensification reinstatement applications were received, of which five were successful.

Livestock Premium Quota

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) suckler cow and (b) sheep annual premium quota has been purchased by the Government; and at what cost.

Elliot Morley: Up to and including the 2002 scheme year, no sheep or suckler cow quota has been purchased by the Government.

Illegal Meat Imports

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions the British Government have had with African counterparts on the question of illegal imports of meat.

Elliot Morley: Since 1997, concern about the increasingly unsustainable nature of the bushmeat trade and its effects on endangered species led to my Department raising the issue within the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This resulted in the establishment of a Bushmeat Working Group to help Central and west African range states develop and implement their own solutions. We have contributed £55,000 to the working group to help the range states participate and to support the recruitment of consultants to revise and harmonise their own wildlife policies and legislation. Work on this is currently under way and progress will be reported to the next conference of CITES parties, to be held in Chile in November.
	We have also funded research analysing existing knowledge and expertise on the bushmeat trade, highlighting gaps in data and understanding, and making recommendations on further action. The results of this research have been made available to the CITES Bushmeat Working Group and we expect them to be discussed at the group's next meeting. This is due to take place in Brazzaville later this month and the UK will be represented at the meeting by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	Through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, we have also been using the UK diplomatic missions in Harare, Accra, Abuja, Cairo, Pretoria, Kampala, Abidjan, Maseru, Dakar, Luanda, Nairobi, Kigali, Mbabane and Tunis to raise the profile of UK import restrictions and rules.

Illegal Meat Imports

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the tonnage of illegal meat imports from Africa in the last five years.

Elliot Morley: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) set up a centralised database of seizures of illegal meat and animal products last year, receiving data from all the enforcement agencies. From 1 April 2001 until 12 July 2002, 797 seizures of consignments that included meat and animal products were reported to the database that had arrived on flights and ships from African countries. The volume of these seizures was approximately 1.58 tonnes.
	However, under-reporting and differences in the reporting procedures of the different agencies mean that these are likely to be underestimates of both the total seizures that included meat and animal products and their volume.
	The number of seizures does not reflect the total amount of meant and animal products brought into the country illegally. However, a risk assessment is currently being carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency which will provide information on the likelihood of an animal disease outbreak linked to illegal imports of meat and animal products. The risk assessment will provide an estimate of the probable amount of illegally imported meat from a number of countries, including African countries, per year. This risk assessment is due to be completed in autumn 2002.

Refrigerators

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations she has had, and with which organisations, on the (a) directive on the disposal of refrigerators and (b) draft directive on waste electronic electrical equipment.

Michael Meacher: The regulation on substances that deplete the ozone layer sets requirements related to the recovery of CFCs and HCFCs contained in waste refrigerators. We consulted widely during the negotiations of the regulation. More recently we have continued to work closely with retailers, local authorities, the Environment Agency, the waste management industry and others to implement the regulation.
	A formal DTI consultation on the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive was issued in summer 2000. Results were published in December 2000. Approximately 300 consultation documents were sent out. Government Departments are in regular contact with industry about the proposed WEEE directive and its implementation in the UK, and report back to industry on developments in the negotiations in Brussels as they happen. A series of meetings is currently being held with local authorities and with retailers to discuss the collection and recycling requirements of the WEEE directive and possible implementation methods. A series of events has been arranged by the Small Business Service to raise awareness in the regions and discuss the directive with all stakeholder groups. Officials will also be visiting several other member states to discuss implementation of the directive and to learn from those who already have legislation in this area.

Hunting

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she plans to hold public hearings as part of the consultation on hunting with dogs.

Alun Michael: Hearings will take place in Portcullis House on 9, 10 and 11 September as part of the current consultation on hunting with dogs.
	The hearings will explore the issues of preventing cruelty and recognising utility and how best to apply principles, building on the conclusions reached by the Committee of Inquiry chaired by Lord Burns. A number of expert witnesses will be invited to provide evidence. This process will help towards the drawing up of legislation based on clear principles, as indicated in my statement to the House on 21 March and is being organised in co-operation with the Countryside Alliance the Campaign for Protection of Hunted Animals, and the Middle Way Group. Details will be posted on the DEFRA website from early August (http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/ hunting/hunting.htm).

Hazardous Waste

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect on disposal routes of the reclassification of waste as hazardous.

Michael Meacher: Reclassification of waste as hazardous will restrict its disposal via landfill to those sites classified as landfill sites for hazardous waste by the Environment Agency. Landfill site operators should have submitted site conditioning plans (required by 16 July) detailing what classification they are seeking for their site. It is still too early to assess what hazardous waste capacity will be available after 16 July but the waste management industry have informed us that they do not foresee a shortfall.

Energy Crops

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to introduce a processing plant for energy crops in Scotland; when it will come into force; how much it will cost; and if she will make a statement on where responsibility for this project lies.

Elliot Morley: Responsibility for this is with the Scottish Executive. I understand the Executive has no knowledge of a project being developed to utilise energy crops.

Pet Travel

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which ports allow animals into the UK through the PETS scheme; and if she plans to extend the number of ports in this scheme.

Elliot Morley: At present there are five sea ports where animals that meet the rules of the Pet Travel Scheme can enter England. These are Dover, Portsmouth, Harwich, Poole and Plymouth. Pets can also enter England under the scheme through Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Under the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme, any transport company wishing to transport animals to England under the scheme must seek written approval to do so from the Government. My Department has written in the past to all ferry and airline companies operating passenger routes into England to invite expressions of interest for approval to join the scheme. Whether companies choose to seek approval is a commercial and operational decision for them.

Aujeszky's Disease

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will announce the results of the tests for Aujeszky's disease taken this month on a number of premises in Lancashire, Cheshire, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, West Sussex and Lincolnshire.

Elliot Morley: The final results of these tests were received on Monday 15 July, and I am pleased to say they were all negative.
	A press release was issued on the same day announcing that no trace of disease has been found following the investigations.

Bush Meat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations her Department has received about the issue of the unsustainable bush meat trade and its inclusion in the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Michael Meacher: The Secretary of State has received the following recent representations about this issue:
	Two letters from my hon. Friend himself, dated 16 April and 24 May.
	A letter from the director of International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW UK), Ms Campbell-McRae, dated 27 May.
	The Secretary of State has replied to each correspondence.
	UK Government officials, including a DEFRA representative, attended the UK Bushmeat Campaign meeting on 28 May. The aim of the workshop was to draw attention to the bush meat crisis and to call for it to be raised at the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD).

Bush Meat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about her Department's intention to include the issue of the unsustainable bushmeat trade in her preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Michael Meacher: The Government's work to tackle unsustainable bushmeat trade is ongoing, predominantly through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES) and the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD). We have funded research to analyse knowledge on the bushmeat trade, highlight gaps in data and understanding, and recommend further action. The Government supports a number of initiatives with links to bushmeat, such as the UK Bushmeat Working Group.
	Our priorities for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) include poverty eradication and sustainable livelihoods, with a focus on implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, linked with the need for good domestic, regional and international governance and institutional capacity building. Action in these areas will address the diverse underlying causes of bushmeat trade. The draft Programme of Action (PoA) for WSSD recognises that the Conventions on Biodiversity (CBD) and International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES) are the key routes for achieving the conservation and sustainable sue of biological diversity and thereby tackling trade in bushmeat. The draft PoA calls for all countries to implement the CBD's programme of work on forest biological diversity. As you know, the work programme specifically calls for the establishment of a group to develop a work plan to bring harvesting of non-timber forest products, with particular focus on bushmeat, to sustainable levels.

Energy Saving Trust

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the (a) Create and (b) Lightswitch grant regimes administered by the Energy Saving Trust were discontinued; and what will replace them with respect to schools.

Michael Meacher: The school sector is an area where we now expect the Carbon Trust to have a lead role as part of their work on the promotion of energy efficiency in the public sector. We have asked the Carbon Trust to work with the Energy Saving Trust to develop a new approach for the schools sector, and they intend to draw on the previous experience of the EST as well as other key players such as CREATE.
	In addition, as part of their work to promote energy efficiency in business and the public sector, the Carbon Trust is currently considering how the promotion of energy efficient lighting, including in schools, can be improved and will shortly be consulting with all key players, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers in developing and expanding their approach.
	In the meantime, the EST will be discussing with the Carbon Trust how to handle certain programmes and initiatives that they had previously managed, such as Lightswitch and SchoolEnergy. The EST is also expected to continue to have an important and proactive role in energy efficiency education and in energy services for schools. I understand that these considerations will form part of the proposal from the Trusts on a future strategy for schools.

Egg Industry

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to make compensation available to egg producers in respect of the capital cost of converting from egg production in cage systems to egg production in non-cage systems.

Elliot Morley: The EC CAP regime for this sector is a light one and no grants are currently available as these would contravene existing rules on state aids. Any compensation would need to be laid down by measures that apply fairly across the EU. The long implementation times for the regulations mean that the industry has a lengthy period over which to write off the required capital investment.

Doha Development Agenda

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to the EU in respect of the Doha Development Agenda negotiations to prevent goods entering the UK that are produced by standards of hygiene and animal welfare lower than in the UK.

Elliot Morley: While we strongly support the removal of protectionist barriers to agricultural trade, we have made clear that liberalisation must not compromise EU standards of hygiene and animal welfare. Our concerns are fully reflected in the negotiating proposals that the European Commission has submitted in the Doha Development Agenda.

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The next meeting of the EU Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry is scheduled for September. The committee consists of representatives of the member states. UK representation depends upon the agenda for each meeting and can include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved Administrations where they consider that there are items of sufficient interest.

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Standing Committee on Agricultural Statistics is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Meetings of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Statistics usually coincide with Working Party meetings and the next will take place in November 2002 if necessary. Consultation with devolved Administrations always takes place beforehand. UK representation varies according to the agenda for each meeting and may include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved Administrations where there are items of sufficient interest.

EU Committees (Scottish Representation)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Committee for Community protection of plant variety rights is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: No meeting of the EU Committee for Community protection of plant variety rights has been scheduled. The Committee consists of representatives of the member states. UK representation depends upon the agenda for each meeting and can include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved Administrations where they consider that there are items of sufficient interest.

Water Abstraction

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what way catchment abstraction management strategies will include the water requirements of UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitats in England and Wales.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 17 July 2002
	UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitats will be included as one of the environmental considerations when Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies are prepared.

Water Abstraction

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abstraction licence holders have voluntarily converted their licences of right to time limited licences since the publication of Taking Water Responsibly.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 17 July 2002
	None. There have, though, been a few instances where the Environment Agency has reached agreement with an applicant, in the context of an application to vary a permanent licence, that the whole licence be subject to a time limit.

Water Abstraction

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of how catchment abstraction management strategies will contribute to the good status requirements of the EC water framework directive.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 17 July 2002
	The control of abstractions is required by the EC water framework directive as part of the programme of measures that contribute to good status requirements. Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies will provide the Environment Agency with the tools to put the necessary controls in place.

Water Abstraction

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of when the 80 per cent. of abstraction licences held as licences of right will be transferred to time limited status in accordance with Taking Water Responsibly; and what mechanisms her Department proposes to use to make this transition.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 17 July 2002
	"Taking Water Responsibly" tasked the Environment Agency with developing plans, as part of its Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS) programme, to convert existing permanent licences to time limited status on a prioritised basis, and also to consider establishing incentives in its Charges Scheme to encourage this. The first round of the agency's CAMS programme will take another seven years to be completed for the whole of England and Wales. It is intended to address the conversion of licences to time limited status as part of this process. The agency will also be consulting later this year on proposed revisions to its Charges Scheme, which are likely to include financial incentives to encourage voluntary conversion. "Taking Water Responsibly" (paragraph 7.12) acknowledged that "the process of conversion of existing licences to time limited status may be quite protracted".

Common Agricultural Policy

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many payments of financial support under the CAP in England and Wales were (a) between £200,000 and £499,999, (b) between £500,000 and £999,999 and (c) in excess of £1 million, in the last year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 17 July 2002
	The table gives numbers of individual payments of financial support under the CAP to addresses in England and Wales in each category. Some businesses may have received more than one payment, or may have had trading interests outside the region of the address to which the payments were made.
	
		
			  £200,000 to £499,999 £500,000 to £999,999 Over £1 million 
		
		
			 Grants and subsidies
			 England 158 11 3 
			 Wales(16) 0 0 0 
			 Market support
			 England 523 125 33 
			 Wales 82 42 33 
		
	
	(16) Figures relate to the 12 months ending June 2002, except for grants and subsidies for Wales which relates to the EAGGF budget year ending in 2000, the last year for which figures were readily available.

Small Farms

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been paid to small farmers in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England in each of the last five years for set-aside.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 17 July 2002
	Small farmers, defined in the EU's Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) as those claiming for an area producing not more than the equivalent of 92 tonnes of cereals, have only been eligible for set-aside payments since the year 2000. Approximate figures for payments since then are as follows.
	
		£000 
		
			  2000 2001 
		
		
			 (a) Scotland 211 311 
			 (b) Wales 15 61 
			 (c) England 957 2,924

Honey Bees

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the work done by Bee Disease Insurance Limited to prevent the outbreak of harmful diseases among honey bees.

Elliot Morley: Insurance against the loss of colonies and equipment as a result of infection with notifiable bee diseases is a valuable tool in disease control. The Department welcomes the work of Bee Diseases Insurance Ltd. which serves to encourage beekeepers in England to play their part in the identification of notifiable diseases, and to bring any suspected incidents of these to the attention of the Central Science Laboratory's National Bee Unit.

Central Science Laboratory

James Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets she has set the Central Science Laboratory for 2002–03.

Elliot Morley: I have set the Central Science Laboratory the following performance targets for 2002–03.
	Quality of Service
	1. To make satisfactory progress with the action plan resulting from the 2001–02 science audit.
	2. To manage the Agency in an effective manner, including delivery of e-Government and commercial exploitation of research outputs.
	3. To achieve a minimum of 85 per cent. of project milestones in commissioned projects which support the "Developing DEFRA" objectives.
	4. To achieve a mean score of 4.0 on a scale of 0.5 for the assessment of customer satisfaction using the revised methodology.
	Efficiency
	5. To deliver the efficiency targets set out in the business plan.
	Financial Performance
	6. To recover from Government Departments, Agencies and external customers, the full economic costs of the Agency's services.

DEFENCE

Offset Obligations

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost and benefits of offset obligations incurred by United Kingdom defence companies as part of export defence agreements were in each year since 1992, broken down by nations and regions of the UK.

Lewis Moonie: Such offset obligations are normally commercial transactions entered into by United Kingdom companies and overseas authorities. Information on these transactions is not held centrally by the Ministry of Defence.
	There is, however, one Government-to-Government arrangement. Under the A1 Yamamah programme, Her Majesty's Government encourages commercial investment in Saudi Arabia as an offset to the programme costs to the Saudi Arabian Government. This arrangement, which is at no cost to the United Kingdom taxpayer, makes a valuable contribution to this important defence collaboration programme.

Royal Navy Submarines

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the testing of a new naval nuclear reactor core that will power Royal Navy submarines for their full operational life; and what problems have been experienced.

Lewis Moonie: The new naval nuclear reactor Core H that will power Royal Navy submarines for their full operational life is being tested at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment located at Dounreay in Scotland. Full power trails started on 5 February 2002 and all initial test results were as predicted. No problems have been experienced with the new core during testing to date.

Royal Navy Submarines

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the testing of a new naval nuclear reactor core that will power Royal Navy submarines for their full operational life has remained within his Department's estimated budget.

Lewis Moonie: The fixed price contract to deliver testing of the Royal Navy's new submarine reactor core has remained within the Equipment Programme 2002 budget.

Procurement (Interoperability)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are in place to ensure (a) current and (b) future interoperability with (i) UK, (ii) NATO and (iii) US systems when making procurement decisions; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Interoperability is a broad subject and no single criterion determines the Ministry of Defence's requirements for interoperability. The issue includes interoperability between different equipment capabilities, between operational and business applications, as well as with allies and coalition partners. The ability to operate effectively alongside NATO partners, including the United States, in multinational operations is considered crucial. For each new equipment project, the Business Case through which the project is approved will consider explicit requirements for interoperability. This will also express, as a Key User Requirement, specific and affordable interoperability requirements for the system.

Gulf War Veterans

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will pay no-fault compensation to former members of the UK armed forces suffering from Gulf war syndrome, in accordance with the recent ruling of the Pension Appeals Tribunal in the case of Mr. Shaun Rusling; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 9 July 2002
	As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the armed forces explained in his answers on 2 July, Official Report, columns 226–27W and on 4 July, Official Report, column 520W, the Ministry of Defence does not recognise Gulf war syndrome as a medical condition. Furthermore, the recent Pension's Appeal Tribunal's decision is specific to that case and does not set a legal precedent. It would be wrong to interpret from the tribunal's finding that Gulf war syndrome does exist. However, the fact that there is, at present, no proper basis for recognising Gulf war syndrome as an appropriate diagnostic label does not prevent a Gulf veteran getting a war pension which is paid on a no-fault basis. Gulf veterans may also be eligible for no-fault pension benefits under the armed forces pension scheme.

Gulf War Veterans

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy of providing compensation to invalided soldiers, medical auxiliaries and their families suffering from illness arising from serving in the Gulf War.

Lewis Moonie: No-fault compensation for United Kingdom service personnel disabled as a result of their service is provided through the War Pension Scheme (WPS). The WPS applies to all those who have served in the UK forces. Veterans may also be eligible for an Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) occupational pension and, if they have been medically discharged, this is supplemented by attributable benefits linked to the degree of disability or non-attributable benefits linked to length of service, whichever is the greater. Both the WPS and AFPS provide benefits to the dependants of veterans who have died.
	The Ministry of Defence has about 2,000 active notices from Gulf veterans and members of their families of their intention to claim common law compensation in respect of illness allegedly arising from the Gulf conflict. However, we have still yet to receive any writs or claims of sufficient detail to allow these cases to be taken forward. When compensation claims are submitted against the MOD, they are considered on the basis of whether or not the Department has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a legal liability to pay compensation we do so.

Military Exports

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a list of authorised exporters of military supplies based in (a) mainland UK, (b) the Channel Islands and (c) the Isle of Man.

Lewis Moonie: Such a list does not exist.

Nimrod MRA4

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Nimrod MRA4 programme; and what problems have been experienced.

Lewis Moonie: Nimrod MRA4 is a highly complex, software intensive and sophisticated product. The degree of technical challenge has led to a delay in delivery, with the in-service date re-set in 1999 to March 2005. BAE Systems are driving hard for this target and the key interim deliverable of first flight, expected by the end of this year. The Ministry of Defence and the company are also ensuring that Day 1 and whole life support are in place as required. The capability to be provided will be a step change from that currently available. Nimrod will be the leading class product, evidenced by US interest in MRA4 as a contender for their Multi-Mission Aircraft programme.

Afghanistan

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many men have left the initiative to train a standing Afghan army.

Geoff Hoon: There have been some who have left the Afghan army training programme, but overall in the circumstances there appears to have been a reasonable retention rate, and we are pleased that this multi-ethnic force is beginning to take root.

Eurofighter

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the delays to the Eurofighter.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 478W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Smith).

HMS Albion

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 736W, when the review of the in-service date with BAES Marine is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: It is expected that the review with BAES Marine of HMS Albion's in-service date will be completed shortly. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House once the date has been confirmed.

Weapon Locating Radars

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many artillery hunting radars have been leased from Ericsson to fill the capability gap left by the delay in selecting a bidder; what the total cost was of leasing; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Four Arthur weapon locating radars were leased from Ericsson in April 2002 to satisfy an urgent operational requirement. The systems were deployed operationally by the end of April 2002. The cost of the lease is commercially sensitive and so I am withholding it under Exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	A competition to satisfy the Army's requirement for a mobile artillery monitoring battlefield radar was launched in October 2001. Ericsson was selected as the preferred bidder and a contract was placed for four Arthur systems in June 2002. These are an upgraded version of those that have been leased and will offer an increase in capability when brought into service with the United Kingdom armed forces. There was no delay in selecting a preferred bidder, but work to confirm the requirement took longer than expected.

HMS Fearless

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the (a) Brazilian and (b) Argentinean Governments about a possible sale of HMS Fearless.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 16 July 2002
	I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemptions 1 and 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

A600M

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the re-tendering process for the engines for the A600M; what EU funding is available to (a) Pratt and Whitney and (b) Rolls Royce to assist with research and development of bids for the A600M engine project; and when he will announce the outcome of the re-tendering process for the A600M engines.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 16 July 2002
	I believe that the hon. Member is referring to the A400M aircraft. The A400M prime contractor, Airbus Military, is responsible for selecting the aircraft's engines. In December 2001 the company sought new tenders for the A400M engine after deciding not to proceed with its earlier choice of engine. The hon. Member will recall that the A400M contract is for the development and production of the complete aircraft, including its engines. Airbus Military is free, therefore, to select its suppliers on grounds of performance and cost, thereby ensuring that we obtain best value for money. No EU funding for research and development is available to either Pratt and Whitney or Rolls Royce in connection with the A400M engines. We understand that Airbus Military expect to announce their engine selection when the A400M prime contract becomes effective. Partner nations are working to bring the prime contract into effect at the earliest opportunity.

War Pensions

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he will take to inform ex-servicemen demobbed in 1952 of entitlement to war benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Veterans Agency already undertakes a significant amount of publicity to raise awareness about war pensions. It does not however target ex-servicemen demobbed in any particular year.
	The Agency issues a range of information leaflets and posters to a number of different outlets such as post offices, regimental museums, GP surgeries and works closely with ex-service organisations. In addition the Veterans Agency website contains comprehensive information and the War Pensioners Welfare Service holds advice days and surgeries using a mobile advice unit to access more remote areas.
	There are no time limits for claiming a war pension but the onus is and always has been on the individual to make a claim.

Future Offensive Air Strategy

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government intend to build new aircraft to fulfil the manned aircraft element of the future offensive air strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 17 July 2002
	The future offensive air system is currently in the concept phase with a planned in service date of around 2017. We are currently looking at a potential mix of platforms including long range cruise missiles, uninhabited air combat vehicles and manned aircraft. No final decisions have been taken on the solution.

Future Offensive Air Strategy

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the X-45 in order to fulfil the requirements of the unmanned element of the future offensive air strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 17 July 2002
	We are at the early stages of evaluating ways in which unmanned aircraft could contribute to our future offensive air system (FOAS) capability. As part of our continuing dialogue with United States colleagues, we have discussed the X-45 vehicle. But we have made no formal assessment of the X-45; and nor have we yet taken any decisions about developing or acquiring specific unmanned aircraft in relation to FOAS.

Predator

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government intend to buy Predator; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Under the Watchkeeper programme we are considering how tactical unmanned aerial vehicles can enhance our reconnaissance and imagery intelligence capabilities. Four industry consortia have proposed a range of system solutions (both air vehicles and ground segment elements). The Predator air vehicle is a part of one of these solutions.
	We intend later this year to select two potential solutions for more detailed assessment. Our aim is to select a single preferred solution by the end of 2003.

International Security Assistance Force

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart concerning the duration of the Turkish armed forces' lead of ISAF; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: I have not had discussions on this subject with my Turkish counterpart, although I did discuss the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) with its Commander, Major General Zorlu of the Turkish Army, when I met him recently in Kabul. UN Security Council Resolution 1413 authorised ISAF to continue operations in Kabul for another six months from 20 June 2002 under Turkey's leadership. It is too early to say what might happen after that.

Joint Strike Fighter

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Israeli Government about their interest in the Joint Strike Fighter.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 16 July 2002
	There have been no discussions with the Israeli Government about the Joint Strike Fighter.

Joint Strike Fighter

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to seek an in-flight vectoring capability from Joint Strike Fighters.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 16 July 2002
	No. We are not planning to seek an in-flight thrust vectoring capability for any variant of the Joint Strike Fighter.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Dance

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to improve community access to participation in dance; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: In order to provide a full answer, we have contacted the Arts Council of England to request the information required, and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts will write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is available, placing copies of her letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

Communications Bill

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy in the forthcoming Communications Bill to extend Ofcom's proposed duty to promote equal employment opportunities for disabled people in the broadcasting industry to the (a) telecommunications and (b) internet industries, and work connected with these services.

Kim Howells: The EC Directives limit the conditions which can be attached to the provision of electronic networks and services. The permitted categories would not provide a basis for imposing any such controls.

Arts Council

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Arts Council of England and each Regional Arts Board have spent on (a) legal fees, (b) fees for consultants and change managers, (c) redundancy, retention and bonus payments and (d) other costs of stress reduction during the financial year 2001–02; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The following table outlines expenditure by the Arts Council of England and Regional Arts Boards on (a) legal fees, (b) fees for consultants and change managers and (d) other costs of stress reduction during the financial year 2001–02:
	
		£ 
		
			 Expenditure 2001–02 Arts Council of England Regional Arts Board 
		
		
			 Legal fees 679,114 137,784 
			 Fees for consultants and change managers 853,319 0 
			 Redundancy, retention and bonus payments 0 0 
			 Other costs of stress reduction 51,834 10,000

Arts Council

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Arts Council will produce a business plan that will display the costs and benefits of the change process for the three years 2001–04; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Arts Council of England has been asked to develop a plan to evaluate the costs and benefits emerging from the restructuring of the organisation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked for a progress report on the development of this plan by the autumn.

Arts Council

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the work on branding the new Arts Council will be completed; how much will be paid to Wolff Olins for this work; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: This is a matter for the Arts Council of England. I understand it is working towards a completion date later in the year. £73,700 in fees and £7,674 in associated costs have been paid to Wolff Olins for work being carried out on the brand.

Public Consultation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the length was of each public consultation undertaken by her Department since 8 June 2001.

Kim Howells: The following table indicates the length of each public consultation carried out by the Department since 8 June 2001.
	
		
			 Document name Date started Date finished Total time 
		
		
			 Report of the Gambling Review Body 17 July 2001 31 October 2001 15 weeks 
			 National Museum of Science and Industry Review: stage one consultation 1 August 2001 19 October 2001 11 weeks and 2 days 
			 Geffrye Museum/Horniman Museum/Museum of London Review: stage one consultation 8 August 2001 12 October 2001 9 weeks and 2 days 
			 Consultation on the draft Digital Television Action Plan 12 October 2001 2 January 2001 12 weeks 
			 English Heritage Review: stage one consultation 16 October 2001 11 January 2002 12 weeks 
			 National Maritime Museum Quinquennial Performance Review 22 November 2001 8 February 2002 11 weeks and 1 day 
			 Consultation on Media Ownership Rules 26 November 2001 25 January 2002 9 weeks 
			 Public Lending Right. Quinquennial Performance Review: Consultation Paper 13 November 2001 1 February 2002 11 weeks 
			 Quinquennial Review on the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art 19 November 2001 8 February 2002 12 weeks 
			 Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester Quinquennial Performance Review 5 December 2001 28 February 2002 12 weeks 
			 Spectrum Planning Consultation 11 December 2001 12 April 2002 Extended to 17 weeks 
			 Council of Europe—Convention on the Protection of Audiovisual Heritage 20 December 2001 19 March 2002 12 weeks and 5 days 
			 Review of Progress towards digital switchover 14 February 2002 8 May 2002 12 weeks 
			 The Draft Communications Bill 7 May 2002 2 August 2002 12 weeks 
			 Regent's Park Sports Facilities Consultation 18 March 2002 10 May 2002 8 weeks 
			 Changes to Licensing Hours during All New Year's Eve. 24 April 2002 19 June 2002 8 weeks 
			
			 UK's Open General Export Licensing (OGEL) Limits 19 April 2002 14 June 2002 8 weeks 
			 Prize Competitions 23 May 2002 31 August 2002 14 weeks 
			 National Lottery Licensing and Regulations Consultation 27 June 2002 30 September 2002 13 weeks and 2 days.

Theatre Funding

Ann Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the results of the additional funds allocated as core funding to theatre in 2001 are built upon.

Kim Howells: This is a matter for the Arts Council of England. Once the new funds announced last year are fully on stream in 2003–04 a full and proper assessment can be made of whether they have delivered the achievements envisaged in its Theatre Review.

Tourism

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by tourists in each (a) Government Office region and (b) local authority in the latest year for which figures are available.

Kim Howells: Statistics on expenditure by tourists are not available by Government Office region nor at local authority level. They are however produced according to regional Tourist Board areas. The latest data are shown in the table.
	
		Expenditure by tourists in the UK in 2001 -- £ million
		
			   Domestic  
			 Tourist board region/ country Inbound(17) with overnight stay day trips Total 
		
		
			 Northumbria 170 630 n/a 800 
			 Cumbria 40 740 n/a 780 
			 North West 390 2,090 n/a 2,480 
			 Yorkshire 250 1,450 n/a 1,700 
			 Heart of England 650 2,830 n/a 3,480 
			 East of England 500 1,800 n/a 2,300 
			 South West 430 3,290 n/a 3,730 
			 Southern 800 1,930 n/a 2,730 
			 London 5,660 2,990 n/a 8,660 
			 South East England 610 1,840 n/a 2,450 
			 All England(18) 9,530 20,280 n/a 29,800 
			 Wales 240 1,660 n/a 1,900 
			 Scotland 680 3,410 n/a 4,090 
			 Northern Ireland 100 n/a(19) n/a n/a(19) 
			 UK(18) 10,700 26,100 33,400 70,160 
		
	
	(17) Inbound figures are provisional.
	(18) Figures may not sum due to small proportions of spending that have not been attributable to regions/countries. Typically this arises when a person being interviewed is unable or unwilling to give complete information.
	(19) Comparable data not available.
	Source:
	International Passenger Survey
	UK Tourism Survey and Leisure Day Visit Survey

National Stadium

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received objecting to the term National Stadium being applied to the new Wembley site.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend has received one such representation. This was sent by the hon. Member for Tamworth (Mr. Jenkins) on 20 June 2002.

Licensing Regulations

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will place in the Library the studies of licensing regulations in European and US cities made by her Department and the Home Office, in the course of preparing the White Paper 'Time for Reform', and since.

Kim Howells: holding answer 16 July 2002
	I will place a report on the studies carried out by officials in the Libraries of both Houses and will inform my right hon. Friend when I have done so. This material focuses on the licensing systems of countries rather than cities and on Europe rather than the United States. Published material on non-European countries was also considered in the development of the proposals set out in 'Time for Reform'.

Sports Coaching

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the contribution made by volunteers in the field of sports coaching.

Richard Caborn: Sport, particularly at local club level, would be unable to flourish without 1.5 million volunteers, who include administrators, mentors and officials, as well as coaches. The Government's Plan for Sport recognised the critical importance of volunteers and the need to invest in maintaining numbers through training. The Step into Sport project aims to meet this need by investing £7 million over two years in training 60,000 young people and 8,000 adults to volunteer in sport, and by assisting the national governing bodies of sport to produce volunteer support strategies. A further initiative, Come into Coaching, will aim to attract volunteer coaches and administrators from March 2003.

Audiovisual Works

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the EU Committee for the Implementation of the Training Programme for Professionals in the European Audiovisual Programme Industry and of the Programme to Encourage the Development, Distribution and Promotion of European Audiovisual Works (MEDIA III) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Management Committee for the Media Plus programme last met on 12 July and is next due to meet on 16 October. No members of the Scottish Executive have been or are members of the committee.

Television Without Frontiers Directive

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the EU Contact Committee for the implementation of the television without frontiers directive is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Contact Committee established under Article 23a of the 1997 revision of the "television without frontiers" directive last met in Brussels on 11 and 12 July 2002. There is no fixed date for the next meeting of the committee which may be convened at the request of any of the delegations; this is likely to be in the autumn. No members of the Scottish Executive have been or are members of the committee.

Open Source Software

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is towards using open source software; and what percentage is used in her Department.

Kim Howells: My Department selects software on the basis of value for money and how well it meets our business needs. Open source software will be reviewed against the same criteria and in line with the forthcoming Government policy on open source software due for publication this summer. At present, my Department does not use any open source software, though such software has been used in the past.

SCOTLAND

External Consultants

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations have won new contracts with (a) her Department and (b) executive agencies in each of the past five years.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the 30 largest contracts awarded by her Department from (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999, (c) May 1999 to April 2000, (d) May 2000 to April 2001 and (e) May 2001 to the latest date, indicating in each case the values of the contracts and the companies with which the contracts were placed.

Helen Liddell: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. Since that date the following contracts have been awarded.
	
		
			 Company Contracts 
		
		
			 Serco Cleaning services 
			 Group 4 Security 
			 Chestertons Facilities management 
		
	
	The value of these contracts is commercially confidential.
	Details of contracts awarded by the former Scottish Office before 1 July 1999 are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

External Consultants

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations which previously held contracts with her Department (a) won new contracts at the culmination of the existing contracts and (b) won new contracts after a period of inactivity with her Department in each of the past five years.

Helen Liddell: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. Since that date no contracts have been awarded to organisations which previously held contracts with my Department.

Relocation Expenses

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her policy is on the payment of relocation expenses to staff in her Department.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office policy on payment of relocation expenses to staff follows the principles detailed in Section 8 of the Civil Service Management Code, which sets out the conditions under which Departments may reimburse relocation expenses to staff.

Special Advisers

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many special advisers were employed by her (a) between 1 May and 31 December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive; and what the total amount spent on special advisers by the Department was in each of those years.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. There are currently two special advisers in the Department.
	On costs, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 11W.

Special Advisers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the number and expected cost to her Department of special advisers in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

Helen Liddell: There are currently two special advisers in my Department.
	On costs, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 11W.

Departmental Contracts

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the 30 largest contracts awarded by her Department from (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999, (c) May 1999 to April 2000, (d) May 2000 to April 2001 and (e) May 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available, stating in each case the values of the contracts and the companies with which the contracts were placed.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. Since that date the following contracts have been awarded:
	Serco—(cleaning services)
	Group 4—(security)
	Chestertons—(facilities management).
	The value of these contracts is commercially confidential.
	Details of contracts awarded by the former Scottish Office before 1 July 1999 are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Performance Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the target has been in each of the last five years for efficiency savings as a percentage of total running costs for each of the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible; and if the target was met.

Helen Liddell: My Department is responsible for the Boundary Commission for Scotland. The Commission has a statutory duty to keep under review the parliamentary constituencies in Scotland and, periodically, to conduct a general review. No specific efficiency savings targets have been set, but my Department monitors closely the Commission's expenditure plans and outturn.

Performance Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the (a) cost and (b) saving from the pursuit of the Department's Public Service Agreement targets in each year since they were introduced.

Helen Liddell: My Department does not have a Public Service Agreement.

Performance Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the (a) cost and (b) saving has been from the Department's pursuit of Service Delivery Agreement targets in each year since they were introduced.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office Service Delivery Agreement sets out the Department's agreed strategy for delivering its key performance targets. Each year, details of performance against its targets are published in the departmental report.

Private Finance Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many private finance initiative projects have been subject to refinancing after the contracts have been signed; and what has been the financial effect in each case.

Helen Liddell: My Department has no private finance initiative projects.

Better Quality Services Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of the services of her Department have not been reviewed under the Better Quality Services initiative; and when they will be reviewed.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. The Department does not deliver executive services to the public and none of its activities have been reviewed under the Better Quality Services initiative.

Liquid Petroleum Gas

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many LPG production sites and distribution sites there are; how many there were in 1990; and if she will make a statement on LPG use in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: Information provided by the LPG Association for the UK, including Scotland, indicates:
	there are currently approximately 80 cylinder filling plants/bulk distribution depots;
	there are currently 1,104 vehicle filling stations in the UK, an increase from 100 in 1998 (Scotland figures: 38 stations in 2000; 54 sites currently).
	LPG offers benefits from reduced emissions and reduced fuel costs for motorists. Scotland Office Ministers have campaigned for increased use of LPG, not least because of the potential benefits to some of Scotland's most remote communities. I am therefore glad to see its availability increase across Scotland.

Regional Funding Mechanisms

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff within her office are allocated to consideration of regional funding mechanisms.

Helen Liddell: There are no members of staff within the Scotland Office allocated to consideration of regional funding mechanisms. The Scotland Office does, however, monitor academic research on these issues.

Departmental Property

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to her answer of 25 June 2002, Official Report, column 799W, on departmental property, what the annual rent charged for her Department's office accommodation in (a) Edinburgh and (b) London was in the last year.

Helen Liddell: The annual rent charged last year for my Department's accommodation was £135,250 in Edinburgh and £10,500 in London.

Departmental Property

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to her answer of 25 June 2002, Official Report, column 799W, on departmental property, from whom her Department leases office accommodation in (a) Edinburgh and (b) London.

Helen Liddell: My Department leases accommodation in Edinburgh from the Local Authorities Mutual Investment Trust (LAMIT) and from the Crown Estate in London.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Performance Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Advocate-General what the (a) cost and (b) saving has been from the Department's pursuit of Service Delivery Agreement targets in each year since they were introduced.

Lynda Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Performance Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Advocate-General what has been the (a) cost and (b) saving from the pursuit of the Department's Public Service Agreement targets in each year since they were introduced.

Lynda Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Acquittals

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what action has been taken to reduce the number of (a) judge-ordered and (b) judge-directed acquittals since 1999.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 10 June 2002
	In 1999, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) introduced an adverse outcome analysis system. This provides CPS areas with a consistent means to identify reasons for adverse outcomes and also to allocate responsibility of any failure. This information is collated centrally.
	For the last seven years, many areas of the CPS have had in place, with the police, a system of joint performance management that involves an appraisal of Crown court acquittals, including those ordered and directed by the judge. This process provides areas with information showing particular trends and a means by which improvements can be made.
	The Crown Prosecution Service produces quarterly summaries of unsuccessful case outcomes from information drawn from its various case tracking systems. This year the CPS and the police have begun to develop a joint case outcome analysis which builds on these two processes and will focus on avoidable case failure. Under this system, the reasons for judge ordered and judge directed acquittals in individual cases will be jointly assessed for individual training needs and other joint strategies for performance improvement.
	The process will be supported by more sophisticated management information following the introduction of the CPS' Compass Case Management System due to roll out between April and December 2003.
	The figures in the table show a fall in judge directed acquittals from 1,777 in 1999 to 1,471 last year, a reduction of 17.2 per cent. Over the same period judge ordered acquittals rose from 9,616 to 11,825, an increase of 23 per cent. Much of this increase can be attributed to recent changes in procedures. Since January 2001, the prosecution, unlike before, have been able to discontinue cases in the Crown court. Although this is a prosecution decision, the current system records these as judge ordered acquittals.
	
		Judge ordered and judge directed acquittals 1999–2002
		
			  Number Percentage of completed cases 
		
		
			 1999–2000   
			 Judge ordered acquittals 9,616 11.1 
			 Judge directed acquittals 1,777 2.0 
			
			 2000–01   
			 Judge ordered acquittals 10,145 12.3 
			 Judge directed acquittals 1,755 2.1 
			
			 2001–02   
			 Judge ordered acquittals 11,825 14.0 
			 Judge directed acquittals 1,471 1.7

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Report

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of publishing his Department's annual report for each of the past five years.

Jane Kennedy: The Northern Ireland Office has published a separate annual report since 2000. The publishing costs (excluding staff time in preparation of data) were as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000 2,683.62 
			 2001 6,641.18 
		
	
	The costs for the 2002 report are not yet available.

Paramilitary Symbols

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many arrests have been made in the last five years against persons suspected of (a) erecting flags associated with proscribed organisations and (b) painting murals related to proscribed organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: There are no criminal offences specifically relating to the above.

Paramilitary Symbols

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criminal offences are committed when persons (a) erect flags associated with proscribed organisations and (b) paint murals related to proscribed organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: There are no criminal offences which relate specifically to the circumstances you describe. There are however a range of offences which might be employed, for example:
	In relation to flags associated with proscribed organisations
	1. Breach of the Peace (Common Law)
	2. Provocative Conduct in Public Place or at Public Meetings or Procession (Article 19(1) Public Order (NI) Order 1987 which states A person who in any public place or at or in relation to any public meeting or public procession:
	(i) uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; or
	(ii) displays anything or does any act; or
	(iii) being the owner or occupier of any land or premises, causes or permits anything to be displayed or any act to be done thereon,
	with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or by which a breach of the peace or public disorder is likely to be occasioned (whether immediately or at any time afterwards) shall be guilty of an offence
	3. Intimidation (Section 7, Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875) which states, Every person who, with a view to compel any other person to abstain from doing or to do any act which such other person has a legal right to do or abstain from doing wrongfully and without legal authority
	(i) uses violence to or intimidates such other person or his wife or children, or injures his property; or
	(ii) persistently follows such person about place to place; or
	(iii) hides any tools, clothes or other property owned or used by such other person or deprives him or hinders him in the use of thereof; or
	(iv) watches or besets the house or other place where such other person resides, or works or carries on business or happens to be, or the approach to such a place; or
	(v) follows such person with two or more other persons in a disorderly manner in or through any street or road,
	shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a time not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both. In relation to the painting of murals related to proscribed organisations:
	1. Breach of the Peace (Common Law)
	2. Use of Words or Behaviour or Display of Written Material (Article) 9(1) Public Order (NI) Order 1987) which states, A person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting is guilty of an offence if
	(i) he intends thereby to stir up hatred or arouse fear; or
	(ii) having regard to all the circumstances hatred is likely to be stirred up or fear is likely to be aroused thereby.
	3. Criminal Damage (Article 3(1) Criminal Damage (NI) Order 1977) which states, A person who without lawful excuse destroys or damages any property belonging to another intending to destroy or damage any such property or being reckless as to whether any such property would be destroyed or damaged shall be guilty of an offence.
	It must be emphasised that contemplating any such prosecution of the above is strictly dependent on the individual circumstances of the case. For instance what may intimidate, provoke etc. a particular reaction at an interface, may not have the same effect in the middle of a Loyalist or Republican estate.

Overseas Visits

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in his Department; and what the (a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fireworks

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he consulted the Northern Ireland Fireworks Association during the preparation of the Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

Jane Kennedy: Officials from my Department met with a delegation of representatives from the fireworks industry in Northern Ireland in February 2002. At that meeting the delegates indicated their intention to form the Northern Ireland Fireworks Association.

CCTV Cameras

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the operation of CCTV cameras in the Short Strand area of East Belfast; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: CCTV cameras in the Short Strand area are the sole responsibility of PSNI. However, I believe there is a great deal of potential with CCTV and have been monitoring their use. The Police Service has advised that since 12 May, these cameras have identified some 22 people of being involved in street violence; leading to 11 arrests, with more pending.
	On a disappointing note, there have been regrettable incidents involving individuals damaging the CCTV cameras, even though they have been installed to enhance the public safety of all. I would call on everyone with any influence to do all they can to bring these attacks to an end.

Water Cannon

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to purchase water cannons for use in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The Police Service of Northern Ireland, following discussion with the Northern Ireland Policing Board and ACPO, will shortly place an order for six new vehicle-mounted water cannon. It is hoped that the water cannon will be delivered before the summer of 2003.
	This decision reflects the particular circumstances of North Ireland. It follows receipt of an interim statement, compiled by the independent DSAC Sub-Committee on the medical implications of less lethal weapons, on the medical implications of the use of vehicle-mounted water cannon in public order situations. The DSAC Committee is scheduled to complete the evaluation of vehicle- mounted water cannon before the systems enter service.
	I have today placed a copy of the Sub-Committee's statement in the Library of the House.

Smuggling and Counterfeiting

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce sanctions against those political parties whose paramilitary wings are found guilty of (a) smuggling and (b) counterfeiting goods in the United Kingdom.

Jane Kennedy: The Organised Crime Task Force, which I chair, recognises the lingering, significant influence of paramilitary groups in such organised crime activities and assesses that nearly half of the 76 organised crime groups identified in Northern Ireland are either controlled by, or linked with, republican or loyalist paramilitary organisations.
	That said, it is very important that I confirm that the law enforcement agencies represented on the Task Force do not tackle organised criminals or crime groups on the basis of their paramilitary affiliations (or lack of them), but because of their involvement in criminal activities.
	The Government believe that the most effective sanctions against those engaged in criminality is to disrupt the activity and bring those involved to justice.
	I hope that the hon. Gentleman will agree with me that his firm response by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, HM Customs and Excise and the other agencies represented on the Task Force, is the best response to those involved in smuggling, counterfeiting and, indeed, organised crime in all its forms.

Smuggling and Counterfeiting

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to (a) identify and (b) prosecute those paramilitary and other individuals involved in the (i) smuggling and (ii) counterfeiting of goods in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The Organised Crime Task Force, which I chair, has a clear strategy in place to tackle these two key areas of organised criminal activity, which are laid out in the Confronting the Threat threat assessment and strategy documents, published and laid in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament on 23 May 2002.
	The threat assessment and strategy documents describe in detail the successes that the law enforcement agencies have had in tackling smuggling, counterfeiting and, indeed, other areas of organised criminality. In brief, the Task Force has identified 76 criminal networks involved in a range of organised criminality. It has been assessed that at 31 March 2002: 41 per cent. of the groups are involved in tobacco smuggling; 30 per cent. engaged in alcohol smuggling; 26 per cent. in hydrocarbon smuggling; and 34 per cent. of the group are involved in counterfeiting goods.
	During the last financial year, 57 criminal networks were subject to detailed law enforcement investigation and 43 have had members arrested for a wider range of serious offences. As a direct result of such action, 42 organised crime networks have been disrupted or dismantled.

Drug Users

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of people arrested in Belfast between (a) July and December 2001 and (b) January and March 2002 were known or suspected users of illegal substances.

Jane Kennedy: The Police Service of Northern Ireland does not have data on the illegal substance habits or suspected habits of arrested persons.

Comprehensive Spending Review

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff have contributed to his Department's input to the Spending Review.

Jane Kennedy: The 2002 Spending Review involves a comprehensive assessment of the Department's performance, priorities and resource requirements and a range of staff make a contribution.
	It is not possible to give a total number of staff involved, due to the wide range of contributions, needed from different divisions within the Department.

Full Time Reserve

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time reserve police officers in Northern Ireland were (a) killed and (b) injured each year between 1972 and 1994.

Jane Kennedy: The statistics relating to reserve police officers killed and injured as a result of the security situation in Northern Ireland each year from 1972 to 1994 is set out as follows. These figures comprise both full- time and part-time reserve officers.
	
		
			  Number of deaths Number of injuries 
		
		
			 1972 3 20 
			 1973 3 34 
			 1974 3 24 
			 1975 4 64 
			 1976 10 67 
			 1977 6 39 
			 1978 6 37 
			 1979 5 26 
			 1980 6 40 
			 1981 8 56 
			 1982 4 22 
			 1983 9 30 
			 1984 2 54 
			 1985 9 80 
			 1986 2 116 
			 1987 7 48 
			 1988 2 41 
			 1989 2 35 
			 1990 5 40 
			 1991 1 29 
			 1992 1 26 
			 1993 3 23 
			 1994 0 38 
			  
			 Total 101 989

Belfast Agreement

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what progress has been made by the Northern Ireland Office on political development in Northern Ireland;
	(2)  what progress has been made in the implementation of the Belfast Agreement during 200102.

Jane Kennedy: Very substantial advances were made in the implementation of the Belfast Agreement in recent times. Since last autumn, the devolved institutions have been operating fully effectively; substantial reforms to the policing and justice systems have been carried forward in the last year and there have been acts of decommissioning by the IRA. Continued implementation of the agreement is essential to the political future of Northern Ireland. It can only be achieved if there is full confidence that all involved have renounced violence for good.

Female Staff

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the staff of his Department are women; and what the percentage was in June 1997.

Jane Kennedy: Information is not held in the format requested.
	In July 2002, 60 per cent. of the staff in the Department are women.
	In April 1997, 58.7 per cent. of the staff in the Department were women.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pension Tax Credit

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to implement the pensions tax credit.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Telford (Mr. Wright) on 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 37W.

Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority

Kali Mountford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to receive the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority's sixth annual report.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend has received the sixth report of the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra) which documents how the organisation has carried out its regulatory duties concerned with occupational pensions schemes and new work involving personal and stakeholder pensions. Copies of the report have been laid before Parliament today.

Discretionary Social Fund

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes he will be making to the Discretionary Social Fund.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be making a number of minor changes to the discretionary social fund, with effect from 18 August 2002. The improvements included in this amendment to directions and guidance have been identified during the course of routine monitoring and also include recommendations made by the Work and Pensions Select Committee and the Independent Review Service for the Social Fund.
	Details of the changes have been placed in the Library.

Housing Benefit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 365W, on housing benefit, what conclusions he has reached in his investigations of how local authorities can receive tailored electronic access to other departmental benefit data; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: We are committed to improving the Housing Benefit scheme to make it easier for councils to administer and easier for the public to understand.
	Providing access to a wider range of Departmental benefit data has long been a requirement for local authorities and we have identified a suitable technical solution to give authorities improved tailored access to this information. We have recently made available to all local authorities tailored access to the Departmental Central Index which enables them to access personal details where a National Insurance number is known, and where necessary trace National Insurance numbers.
	Further enhancements are planned including access to details of State Retirement Pension, Incapacity Benefit and Bereavement Benefits. We anticipate that development work will be completed by April 2003 and further access will be made available to local authorities shortly thereafter.

Income Support

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents in receipt of income support have a youngest child below school age; and what proportion this represents of all lone parents on income support.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is as follows.
	Lone parents receiving income supportFebruary 2002
	Number of lone parents receiving income support whose youngest child is under five years of age420,000.
	Percentage of all lone parents receiving income support whose youngest child is under five years of age48.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	3. Lone parents are defined as single people with dependants and who are not receiving the disability or pensioner premium.
	Source:
	Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, February 2002.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants had their jobseeker's allowance reduced during 200102 for (a) two weeks and (b) four weeks for not attending or failing to complete (i) Jobplan workshops, (ii) Restart courses, (iii) Workwise and Worklink and (iv) non-prescribed Government programmes where referral was under a jobseeker's direction.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available.
	Jobplan workshops, Restart courses, Workwise and Worklink were phased out when we introduced our New Deal programmes from April 1998. Information on sanctions applied as a result of a person not attending or failing to continue a programme where referral was under a Jobseeker's Direction is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

New Deal

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many persons in Scotland over the age of 45 years have been helped with the upgrade of maritime competence certificates through New Deal schemes;
	(2)  what financial help is available to those on New Deal schemes for upgrading of existing maritime competence certificates.

Nick Brown: Information on the number of New Deal participants undertaking specific training courses and qualifications is not available.
	The Government offer financial assistance for merchant navy training through the Support for Maritime Training scheme (SMarT). The scheme, which is administered by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, offers substantial financial support to eligible training providers offering to provide approved training, which includes training for maritime competence certificates. In the financial year 200102 the overall budget for this support was 7.4 million. Funding is based on an average of course costs at the main maritime colleges. In broad terms this means that 50 per cent. of eligible costs are covered for each participant's course. If maritime competence training is identified as a need for a New Deal participant, their New Deal personal adviser can refer them to a training provider supported by SMarT if appropriate.
	There is other provision available as well as the SMarT scheme. For example, if a New Deal participant identifies training that they wish to undertake which has not already been contracted for locally, the Jobcentre Plus district is able to buy in one-off provision (assuming that certain eligibility conditions are met and the participant's personal adviser believes that it is an appropriate type of provision for the participant to undertake).
	In addition, the Adviser Discretion Fund gives New Deal personal advisers direct access to money to help people quickly into jobs. Advisers can spend up to 300 on anything that will help a jobseeker obtain a job or, if offered a job, to accept that offer. New Deal participants may be able to access this fund to upgrade their maritime competence certificates, with the agreement of their personal adviser.

Performance Targets

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) cost and (b) coverage is of each PPP/PFI for information systems and technology services now operating in his Department; on what date each agreement was made; and what the performance indicators are for each such contract in each year of operation.

Nick Brown: The Department of Social Security and the Employment Service had both made their own contractual arrangements for Information Systems and Technology Services prior to merging to form the Department for Work and Pensions.
	Department of Social Security
	(a) Cost:
	Information concerning the cost of each PPI/PFI for information systems and technology services is commercially confidential and is not provided in line with part 2 paragraph 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	(b) Coverage: The Department has let four PPP/PFI business allocations for information systems and technology services to date under the ACCORD contract. The Strategic Outsourcing Business Allocation (SOBA) conferred lead supplier status on EDS/Affinity and gave them responsibility for maintenance, development and operation of the Department's IT systems, together with a range of related IT services. This business allocation commenced in September 2000. The Child Support Reforms business allocation was awarded to EDS/Affinity, to provide new IT systems in support of the Child Support Agency. This business allocation commenced in September 2000. The Wide Area Network (WAN) services business allocation was awarded to BT Syntegra in November 2000, to deliver flexible and scaleable networking services to support the next generation of IT systems being delivered to support departmental business initiatives. The Pensions Forecasting Service (PFS) was awarded to EDS/Affinity on 6 June 2002 for the provision of modernised IT to support the Department's requirement to issue increased numbers and types of state pension forecasts.
	The information concerning the departmental key performance indicators are listed in the table:
	
		
			  Year of operation PPP/PFI business allocation  Key performance indicator 
		
		
			 From September 2000 to August 2010 SOBA and WAN National availability of full, end-to-end service for key services of no less than 98.5 per cent. including service extensions and overtime (End of SOBA Year 1target met (and exceeded) by EDS/Affinity. Latest performance report for quarter ending 21 April 2002 also demonstrates target met and exceeded). 95 per cent. of incidents resolved within agreed time scales (End of SOBA Year 1target met (and exceeded) by EDS/Affinity. Latest performance report for quarter ending 21 April 2002 also demonstrates target met and exceeded) 
			
			 From September 2000 to August 2005 SOBA 25 per cent. productivity gains in development of Legacy Systems over five years with a 2 per cent. improvement by August 2001; a 9 per cent. improvement by August 2002; a 17 per cent. improvement by August 2003; a 22 per cent. improvement by August 2004 and the 25 per cent. improvement by August 2005. (Performance delivered against target profile so far) 
			
			 From September 2000 to August 2010 SOBA Development productivity gains should not result in reduction in quality (Quality indicators demonstrate compliance) 
			
			 From CSR Live. Implementation (not yet implemented) until August 2010 CSR Service availability, service response times, data transfer, payments issued, bulk outputs issues. These are monthly indicators with specific targets and service payments will be reduced for failure to meet these  
			
			 From 6 June 2002 to 2006 PFS Service availability, service response times, accurate and timely combined pensions forecasts, accurate and timely individual pensions forecasts. Once the contract system is in operation these monthly indicators and specific targets will apply; service payments will be reduced for failure to meet these 
		
	
	Employment Service
	(a) Costs
	Information concerning the cost of each PPI/PFI for information systems and technology services is commercially confidential and is not provided in line with part 2 paragraph 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	(b) Coverage The Employment Service has let two PPP/PFI business allocations for information systems and technology services to date. On 1 August 1998 the Employment Service (ES) entered into a partnership agreement with EDS (Electronic Data Systems) for provision of all IT and telephony services. In October 2000 the contract was re-negotiated as part of the Modernising Employment Services (MES) programme. On 3 February 1997 ES entered into a contract with Siemens Nixdorf Systems Ltd. for provision of the Employment Service Guidance and Communications Project (Escom). The contract expires 3 February 2003.
	The information concerning the Employment Service key performance indicators is listed in the table.
	
		
			 Year of operation PPP/PFI Contract Key performance indicator 
		
		
			 Life of contract EDS (IT and telephony) Service, availability, incident resolution. National availability of service on all major applications is 99.5 per cent. Some smaller applications have targets of 98 per cent. Performance reports over the previous 12 months have demonstrated that in the main, targets have been met or exceeded. There have been some small drops in the Labour Market Service (LMS) performance figures over the year as a result of major releases and changes to the system. Where this has been the case service credits have been applied accordingly. Incident resolution targets of 90 per cent. for priority 13 cases have been met and regularly exceeded 
			
			 Life of contract SNS (Escom) Availability, access levels, volume of data storage. Targets are in line with the service from EDS (IT and telephony) ie 99.5 per cent. Performance over the last 12 months has been between 99.5 per cent. and 99.8 per cent. demonstrating targets met and exceeded

Incapacity Benefit

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many personal capability assessments were carried out by the Benefits Agency in (a) the last six months and (b) the last 12 months.

Nick Brown: The Personal Capability Assessment is used to determine ongoing entitlement to Incapacity Benefit. It is a functional test carried out by Medical Services' doctors that assesses a person's ability to perform a range of every-day activities. Personal Capability Assessments have been extended in areas covered by integrated Jobcentre plus offices and work- focused interview sites so that examining doctors can produce capability reports for Personal Advisers. These reports provide constructive information to help plan a person's return to work where appropriate.
	The information is in the table.
	
		Number of personal capability assessments carried out
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 December 2001May 2002 258,338 
			 June 2001May 2002 504,420 
		
	
	Source
	IMPACT data.

Incapacity Benefit

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people attending work-focused interviews at Jobcentre Plus offices since 22 October 2001, have (a) moved from incapacity benefit into employment, (b) transferred to other social security benefits and (c) remained in receipt of incapacity benefit at (i) the same level, (i) a higher level and (iii) a lower level;
	(2)  how many incapacity benefit claimants have been referred for a personal capability assessment as a result of a work-focused interview at a Jobcentre Plus office since 22 October 2001.

Nick Brown: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Work-focused interviews provide people making new or repeat claims to Incapacity Benefit with a valuable opportunity to discuss their work options, as well as their benefit claim, and to find out from their personal adviser the practical and financial support that is available to help them move into work. These interviews are separate from the Personal Capability Assessment, which is a functional test that assesses a person's ability to perform a range of everyday activities, and which is used to determine ongoing entitlement to Incapacity Benefit after 28 weeks of sickness.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many statutory instruments have been (a) introduced, (b) removed and (c) amended by his Department since 1 January; and what the (i) cost and (ii) saving has been in each case.

Ian McCartney: The Department for Work and Pensions has introduced 52 statutory instruments between 1 January and 30 June 2002. Thirty-six of these were amendment instruments; eight were commencement instruments; two were Regulatory Reform Orders; one was a revocation order. Many of the instruments concerned were of a routine nature, for example, updating benefit regulations.
	Information relating to costs and savings associated with these instruments, and to repealed and amended regulations, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is completed for each regulatory proposal which impacts on business, charities, or the voluntary sector, unless there are no or negligible costs. The Department for Work and Pensions has published four final RIAs in this period, three of which identified savings for business. These RIAs are available in the House Libraries and on the Department's website.

Child Support Agency

Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) individual cases the CSA has handled, (b) absent parents have refused to co-operate with the CSA and (c) deductions from earning orders have been issued in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Alan Campbell, dated 17 July 2002
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
	You ask how many (a) individual cases the Child Support Agency has handled (b) absent parents have refused to co-operate with the Child Support Agency and (c) deductions from earning orders have been issued in each year since 1997.
	We don't hold all the information you seek. However the table below sets out:
	(a) the number of new applications received each year
	(b) the percentage of cases in which the non-resident parent complies with the requirement to pay maintenance
	(c) the number of cases in which a deduction from earnings order is applied.
	
		
			 Year to 31st March Applications Compliance Deduction from Earnings Orders applied 
		
		
			 1998 402,220 19,064 Data not available 
			 1999 374,455 2,456 123,084 
			 2000 369,226 13,578 Data not available 
			 2001 303,797 5,360 133,444 
			 2002 365,414 5,686 115,003 
		
	
	I hope this is helpful.

Child Support Agency

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many existing cases need to be transferred to and how many new cases have been assessed under the new Child Support scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 17 July 2002
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
	You have asked the following questions:
	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many existing cases need to be transferred to and how many new cases have been assessed under the new Child Support scheme.
	No cases have yet been assessed under the new Child Support scheme. We can only begin to assess cases under the new scheme when Ministers have decided to implement the new arrangements. When they do so they will have to lay a Commencement Order before Parliament. They will only do that when they are confident about when our new computer system, that is currently being tested, will be operational.
	Based on current forecasts of the predicted Agency caseload, it is estimated that approximately one million existing cases would require to be transferred to the new child support scheme.
	I hope this is helpful.

Child Support Agency

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases have been referred by the CSA to their Special Payments Unit in each of the past five years, broken down by region; and of these, what percentage resulted in a compensatory payment being made.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 4 July 2002
	The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Russell Brown, dated 17 July 2002
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
	Your ask how many cases have been referred by the Child Support Agency to the special payments unit in each of the past five years broken down by region; and of these what percentage resulted in a compensatory payment being made.
	We don't collect information in quite this format. The table below sets out, by reference to our business units, the number of cases each year in which the special payments team authorised payment.
	
		
			  Year to 31 March  
			 Business Unit 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Eastern 1,156 2,010 2,210 2,379 1,209 
			 Wales  North West 580 781 998 1,005 599 
			 Midlands 851 1,475 1,528 1,576 768 
			 Scotland  North East 724 1,226 1,225 1,405 716 
			 South East 575 848 1,019 1,292 732 
			 South West 580 882 1,067 1,962 1,006 
			  
			 Total 4,466 7,222 8,047 9,619 5,030 
		
	
	These figures represent for each year the following percentage of cases referred to the special payments team for consideration for redress of a consolatory payment:
	1998 61%
	1999 87%
	2000 82%
	2001 83%
	2002 80%

0870 Telephone Numbers

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on using 0870 telephone numbers for inquiries by the public to the Department and its agencies.

Nick Brown: Most existing services, and new services that are being set up, will generally be provided for the cost of a local call (0845 numbers) or, in some circumstances, free. Where different charges currently apply (e.g. 0870 numbers), services are expected to move to the local rate/free charging regime as opportunities arise to do so.

Pensions (Backdating)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason the maximum backdating allowed for the retirement pension is three months; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The absolute time limit of three months for claiming retirement pension was introduced in April 1997 as part of the rationalisation of time limits for all benefits undertaken at that time. Before this date there were a large number of different rules and time periods for the backdating of the claims for different benefits. It was a confusing picture and it was widely recognised that there was a need to simplify the rules. It was considered appropriate for people to have three months in which to make a claim for one of the contributory benefits. Retirement pension is one of those benefits.

Pension Schemes

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction in the (a) number and (b) membership of final salary schemes on long-term pension savings.

Ian McCartney: There has been a long-term decline in the number and membership of final salary pension schemes, for a combination of reasons.
	The Government have announced that it will be taking a radical look at occupational and personal pension provision and coming forward with proposals in a Green Paper in the autumn.

Pension Schemes

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of (a) 20 to 30, (b) 30 to 40, (c) 40 to 50 and (d) 50 to 60-year-olds belong to (i) personal pension schemes and (ii) occupational pension schemes.

Ian McCartney: Information on the percentage of people who are members of pension schemes is not available. The information in the table shows estimates of percentages of people for whom contributions are being made by themselves or by their employer to pension schemes.
	
		
			 Age 2029 3039 4049 5059 
		
		
			 Percentage of adults contributing to a personal pension scheme 7 17 17 15 
			 Percentage of adults contributing to an occupational pension scheme 23 38 41 33 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures relate to the percentage of all adults (defined as all those aged 16 and over, except 16 to 18-year-olds in full time non-advanced education) whether in employment, self employed or economically inactive.
	2. Adults contributing to both types of scheme will be contained in both sets of figures.
	3. The figures will not include those who have previous pension rights in a scheme but who are not currently contributing.
	4. The estimates are based on sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors that control for region, council tax band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non-response.
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey 200001

Pension Schemes

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of (a) 20 to 30, (b) 30 to 40, (c) 40 to 50 and (d) 50 to 60-year-olds have opted out of SERPS in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (i) men and (ii) women.

Ian McCartney: The information requested is not available. Information on the percentage of people contracted out of SERPS covering the period 199293 to 199697 is in the table.
	
		Per cent. 
		
			   Age group  
			  2029 3039 4049 5059 
		
		
			 199293 
			 Total 75.0 83.6 72.7 53.6 
			 Men 78.1 94.5 89.7 61.7 
			 Women 71.7 70.0 53.6 43.5 
			 199394 
			 Total 72.4 85.3 73.0 53.2 
			 Men 74.8 95.6 90.2 61.2 
			 Women 69.9 72.5 54.2 43.5 
			 199495 
			 Total 67.7 86.3 72.9 53.1 
			 Men 69.5 96.2 89.4 60.7 
			 Women 65.8 74.3 54.9 44.3 
			 199596 
			 Total 63.8 88.5 75.0 54.9 
			 Men 64.5 96.9 89.7 61.3 
			 Women 63.1 78.3 59.1 47.5 
			 199697 
			 Total 59.5 90.8 77.6 57.3 
			 Men 59.8 98.5 92.5 64.6 
			 Women 59.1 81.6 61.6 49.0 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are taken from the Lifetime Labour Market Database (LLMDB), extracted from the National Insurance Recording System (NIRS).
	2. Figures are taken from a 1 per cent. sample so may be subject to sampling variation.
	3. The number of individuals who have opted out of SERPS was calculated by determining how many individuals were members of contracted-out occupational schemes or Appropriate Personal Pension (APP) schemes at some point during each year.
	4. The percentages were derived from the number of individuals in each age group, in each year who were Class 1 National Insurance Contribution Contributors, i.e. those individuals who were in employment and could thus opt out of SERPS.

Pension Schemes

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many occupational schemes are in operation in the UK; and how many employees have belonged to each scheme in each of the last 10 years.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available in the form requested. The available information is set out as follows.
	Number of occupational schemes registered as 'live' (to nearest 1,000)103,000.
	Notes:
	1. 'Live' schemes include:
	schemes which are open to new members;
	'closed' schemes which new members can not join;
	schemes which have 'frozen' where no new benefits are being accrued; and
	schemes that are in the process of winding up.
	2. Figure is as at 2 July 2002.
	Source:
	Pension Schemes Registry.
	
		Number of employees for which contributions are currently being made to occupational pension schemes
		
			  Number of employees (million) 
		
		
			 199697 10.3 
			 199798 10.4 
			 199899 10.7 
			 19992000 10.6 
			 200001 10.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Between 199899 and 19992000 there was a change in methodology on the Family Resources Surveythe estimates for the years 19992000 and 200001 are not comparable to those for previous years.
	2. Figures include both employees who are contributing and/or for whom contributions are being made by the employer.
	3. The estimates are based on sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors that control for region, council tax band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non-response.
	4. Estimates may differ from those provided in different surveys.
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey

Pensions

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans he has to reform pension law to ensure that pensioners have direct representation on boards of trustees;
	(2)  what plans he has to reform pension law to require boards of trustees to include employers, employed members and pensioners on an equal basis.

Ian McCartney: We have no such plans.
	The role of a trustee is not to be a representative of a particular group or category of member. All trustees have the same responsibilities regardless of how they come to the role, and the most important thing is that they have the skills and knowledge to fulfil those responsibilities. It would be inappropriate to expect certain trustees to have responsibilities relating only to certain categories of member.
	We do, however, recognise that having ordinary scheme members on trustee boards helps to provide a balance of skills and experience and helps promote member confidence, which is why we are working toward ensuring that every scheme has at least one third member-nominated trustees.

Pensions

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will amend the law relating to the management of actuarial surpluses of pension funds to ensure that pensioners are not marginalised.

Ian McCartney: There are no plans to make changes in this area.

Pensions

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to clarify the law regarding ownership of pension funds to establish pension funds as the property of the pensioners.

Ian McCartney: Scheme assets are owned by the scheme, and managed by the scheme trustees. Scheme members have no legal rights to the assets, but have a right to benefits as laid down by the trust deed. We have no plans to change the law.

Female Staff

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the staff of his Department are women; and what the percentage was in June 1997.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State (Mr. Alexander), Cabinet Office, on 5 July 2002, Official Report, column 622W.

Occupational Pension Schemes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the clawback of the state pension by occupational pension schemes.

Ian McCartney: Occupational pension provision is voluntary, and it is for employers to decide the nature of the scheme and the benefits provided. The decision as to whether a scheme should continue to operate on an integrated basis, or if not, how and when integration should be abolished, is a matter for employers.

Public Service Agreements

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of the public service agreements of his Department set out in the document, Public Services for the Future 1998, have been met; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answer 10 July 2002
	Information relating to the Department's public service agreement targets can be found in the Department's departmental report 2002.

Benefits

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many suspensions of benefits were reversed following evidence of the medical condition of the applicant in the Portsmouth, South constituency in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the reasons for the suspension of benefits in the Portsmouth, South constituency in the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many claimants, broken down by age group, have had their benefits suspended in the Portsmouth, South constituency for failing to keep an appointment at a jobcentre in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what the average time taken to reinstate benefits following suspension was in the Portsmouth, South constituency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: For information on the circumstances in which payment of benefit may be suspended, I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Angus (Mr. Weir) on 8 July 2002, Official Report, columns 75354W.
	No information is collected centrally on benefit suspensions, at either national or constituency level.

Youth Unemployment

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unemployed young people there are in (a) the Glasgow Pollok constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the United Kingdom; what the figures were in each of the last five years; if he will list the steps that are being taken to focus help on those youngsters with the greatest difficulty in finding employment; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The information is in the table.
	
		Number of unemployed young people, aged 1824(20)
		
			   Glasgow Pollok Glasgow Scotland UK 
		
		
			 May 1997 758 7,375 40,146 396,734 
			 May 1998 765 6,570 35,777 331,974 
			 May 1999 645 5,408 31,421 286,485 
			 May 2000 503 4,528 27,452 251,578 
			 May 2001 457 4,364 26,094 232,995 
			 May 2002 475 4,272 25,845 233,433 
		
	
	(20) Seasonally unadjusted
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	As these figures show, youth unemployment nationally has fallen by 40 per cent. since 1997, to around its lowest level since the mid- 1970s. Moreover, long term youth unemployment has been virtually eradicated.
	The New Deal for Young People has played an important part in this success. By the end of March 2002 it had helped over 360,000 young people into jobs. This includes more than 700 young people in my hon. Friend's constituency.
	Many of these young people faced significant barriers to employment. The New Deal has given them the skills and motivation to help them move into work. However, we recognise that some young people continue to face difficulties in the labour market. We are introducing a range of measures to provide even more help for these young people.
	Action Teams for Jobs are already helping disadvantaged groups in the most employment deprived areas in the country into work. The nine teams operating in Scotland have already helped nearly 1,300 young people into work so far, more than 400 of them in Glasgow.
	This spring we introduced progress2work, a 40 million initiative to give unemployed people who are recovering from a drug problem the extra help they need to get into work. The first progress2work projects have started in 27 pathfinder areas, including two in Glasgow and 3 in other parts in Scotland. Phase 2 of progress2work will start in October 2002 in a further 36 areas and the programme will be rolled out to all parts of the country from 2003. In the autumn, we will extend the progress2work model to help other groups facing disadvantage in the labour market, including ex-offenders.
	In April 2002, we launched StepUP, a 40million initiative providing transitional jobs for people who have not been able to find work through New Deal. Six pilots are already up and running, including one in Scotland, and we are introducing a further 14 throughout the year.
	We also introduced in April a new 15 million outreach initiative to engage more effectively with, and improve the job prospects for people from ethnic minorities. This will build on the success of the New Deals, which have already helped over 63,000 people from ethnic minorities into work.

Universal Bank

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the number of benefit claimants without a bank account who may wish to transfer to the services of the Universal Bank; and whether the services offered will be restricted to those currently without a bank account.

Nick Brown: We estimate that around 3.5 million adults in the UK do not currently have access to a bank account; the overwhelming majority of this group will be benefit recipients. Universal banking services will consist of two elementsaccess to the banks' basic bank accounts and the card account at the Post Office. Universal banking services will not be restricted to those currently without a bank account.

Employment Zone

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the evaluation of the Employment Zone project will be completed; and if he will recommend an extension of the scheme.

Nick Brown: The Employment Zone contracts are subject to qualitative and quantitative evaluation. The qualitative study of Zone operations between winter 2000 and summer 2001 was published on 17 July 2002 (Working Age Evaluation Series, Number 124). A copy has been placed in the Library. A cohort study comparing characteristics and outcomes of Zone participants with those of similar long-term unemployed people will be published in late spring 2003.
	Our evaluation to date shows that Employment Zones are making a positive contribution in helping long-term unemployed people in deprived areas move off benefit and into work. The 15 Zones have already helped over 22,300 people into jobs. We have recently extended the current Zone contracts to March 2004 and, as the Chancellor announced on 15 July, we will also be testing the Employment Zone approach with other groups such as lone parents and people returning to the New Deals for a second time.
	The qualitative evaluation report highlights some encouraging findings about the Zones, recognising, for example, that they have a genuinely innovative delivery system and underlining the importance of the flexibility afforded to Personal Advisers in helping people move into jobs. We will study the report's findings closely and consider what lessons can be learnt from the Employment Zone approach.

Employment Zone

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the employment zone scheme interacts with the work of Jobcentre Plus.

Nick Brown: Jobcentre Plus works with Employment Zone contractors to help long-term unemployed people in 15 deprived areas move off benefit and into work. By the end of February 2002, the zones had helped over 22,300 people into jobs.
	People aged 25 and over, living in a zone area and claiming income-based jobseeker's allowance, become eligible for employment zone help after either 12 or 18 months' unemployment (depending on the employment zone area). Jobcentre Plus identifies and refers eligible people to the employment zone at the appropriate time. Eligible participants who fail to attend an employment zone are brought to the attention of Jobcentre Plus by their personal adviser and may have their benefit sanctioned if there is no good cause for their non-attendance.
	Jobcentre Plus and employment zone contractors have developed a strong working relationship. One of the ways they have achieved this is through the secondment of Jobcentre Plus staff to employment zones. Employment zones also have access to Jobcentre Plus premises and labour market information systems. This strong partnership ensures that payments to clients are accurate, and the zones contribute to Jobcentre Plus' achievement of the best job outcomes for clients.

Regulatory Impact Unit

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many members of his Department have been employed in its regulatory impact unit in the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: From April 1997 to the present date, the Department for Work and Pensions has employed the following numbers of staff in its regulatory impact unit (RIU):
	April 1997 to October 1997: Two full-time members of staff (combining RIU work with other work responsibilities)
	October 1997 to April 1999: One full-time member of staff (combining RIU work with other work responsibilities)
	April 1999 to the present: One full-time member of staff dedicated to the work of the Department's RIU.
	It is the job of Department's regulatory impact unit to establish and promote in the Department the principles of good regulation, so that all officials within it may contribute effectively to the Government's regulatory reform initiative. The unit also works closely with the regulatory impact unit in the Cabinet Office, and with the small business service. A key element of the unit's work is to help minimise the impact on business, charities, and the voluntary sector, of those Departmental regulations which are necessary.
	Note:
	Data before April 2001 refer to the Department of Social Security.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Director of Public Prosecutions

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many premises are used by the DPP; where these are located; and what the functions of each are.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	Seven premises are currently occupied by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland. Of these, five are located in Belfast, including the Royal Courts of Justice, and cover the Director's Office; Belfast/eastern circuit; northern/southern circuit; High Court and Appeal Office; Fraud and Departmental Office and the Criminal Justice Review Implementation Team.
	The two remaining offices which are attached to the northern and southern circuit are in Omagh and Coleraine.

Contact Orders

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what investigations the Department is undertaking of the cases of 15 children killed while subject to contact arrangements in England and Wales; how many contact orders were involved in these cases; and in how many of these cases the resident parent was advised by court professionals to agree to informal contact arrangements.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department is working with the Home Office and Department of Health to identify cases brought to our attention where children may have been killed while the subject of contact orders. In some cases it appears contact orders were in place. We are now looking for court files to determine the basis on which contact was ordered. We have not yet established whether the former Court Welfare Service played a role (if any) in the above cases. Court staff do not give legal advice. The advice given to parents by their legal advisers is subject to professional confidentiality.

Contact Orders

Debra Shipley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many contact centres offering supervised contact there are in (a) Bristol, (b) Birmingham, (c) Bournemouth, (d) Bradford, (e) Cardiff, (f) Coventry, (g) Leicestershire, (h) Liverpool, (i) Manchester, (j) Nottingham, (k) Northampton, (l) Oxford, (m) Swindon, (n) Southampton, (o) Stoke-on-Trent, (p) Swansea, (q) Taunton and (r) Worcester.

Rosie Winterton: Child contact centres are run by the voluntary sector. No comprehensive data is kept on how many child contact centres offering supervised contact exist. We are aware that of the approximate 280 child contact centres in England and Wales currently affiliated to the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC), 35 offer supervised contact. One of these is located in Manchester.
	The Child Contact Centre Stakeholder Group, which includes NACCC, is currently working in partnership with the Lord Chancellor's Department to map the provision of child contact centres in England and Wales. This will assist in developing a national network of child contact centres that can provide safe and meaningful contact between children and their non-resident parent.

Contact Orders

Debra Shipley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many contact centres offering supervised contact there are in Wales.

Rosie Winterton: Child contact centres are run by the voluntary sector. No comprehensive data is kept on how many child contact centres offering supervised contact exist. We are aware that in Wales there are 11 centres currently affiliated to the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC). Of these, one offers supervised contact and is located in Newport. The Child Contact Centre Stakeholder Group, which includes NACCC, is currently working in partnership with the Lord Chancellor's Department to map the provision of child contact centres in England and Wales. This will assist in developing a national network of child contact centres that can provide safe and meaningful contact between children and their non-resident parent.

Overseas Visits

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in his Department; and what the (a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case.

Rosie Winterton: All overseas travel by officials in my Department is undertaken in accordance with the principles set in Chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code, and the detailed rules and guidance set out in LCDHQ and Associated Offices Staff Handbook. The detailed information requested about individual trips is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The total cost of overseas visits made by officials in the Department, including travel, accommodation and subsistence costs, for the years 199899 to 200102 is as follows:
	
		 
		
			   Total cost 
		
		
			 199899 60,254.52 
			 19992000 74,961.47 
			 200001 94,146.45 
			 200102 85,512.69 
		
	
	Prior to 199899 overseas and domestic travelling and subsistence costs were not separately identified.

Consultation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many complaints his Department has received about its 2001 consultations in (a) electronic and (b) printed form.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has received four complaints about public consultation papers it issued during 2001. No records have been kept about whether the complaints were received in electronic or printed form.

Consultation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether his Department has a designated consultation co-ordinator in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations.

Rosie Winterton: Yes. An assistant consultation co-ordinator has also been designated.

Consultation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what format his Department has published the results of its 2001 written consultations.

Rosie Winterton: Response Papers have not been issued for all of the public written consultation papers issued in 2001, but the table below lists the formats used for the Response papers issued so far:
	
		
			  Response paper title Published Format 
		
		
			 Community Legal ServiceFinancial Conditions for funding by the LSC July 2001 Online, hard copy 
			 Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review October 2001 Online, hard copy 
			 E-conveyancingA draft order under section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 December 2001 Online, hard copy 
			 Representative Claimsproposed new procedures April 2002 Online, emailed on request 
			 Distress for Rent May 2002 Online, hard copy 
			 Towards Effective Enforcementa single piece of bailiff law and a regulatory structure May 2002 Online, hard copy

Consultation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether consultation documents published by his Department in 2001 carried the consultation criteria as recommended in the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations.

Rosie Winterton: All public written consultation documents published by the Department in 2001 carried the consultation criteria as recommended in the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations.

Consultation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many consultation documents published in 2001 in (a) electronic and (b) printed form his Department has monitered and evaluated in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations.

Rosie Winterton: All of the eleven public written consultation documents issued by the Lord Chancellor's Department in 2001 were available in both electronic and printed form. All of them were monitored and evaluated in accordance with the Cabinet Office's Code of Practice on Written Consultations. The findings were passed to the Cabinet Office as part of its role in monitoring the effectiveness of public written consultation exercises carried out under the terms of the Code.

Consultation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how long her Department allowed for consultation on each consultation document it published in 2001 in (a) electronic and (b) printed form.

Rosie Winterton: All public consultation documents issued by the Lord Chancellor's Department in 2001 were available in both electronic and printed form. The length of time allowed for consultation is the same for both electronic and printed versions. The length of each public written consultation undertaken by the Lord Chancellor's Department in 2001 was as follows:
	
		
			  Title  Month Length of consultation (weeks) 
		
		
			 Representative Claims: Proposed new procedures February 2001 13 
			 Community Legal Service: Financial conditions for funding by the Legal Services Commission March 2001 7 
			 Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review March 2001 12 
			 E-conveyancing: A draft order under section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 March 2001 14 
			 Distress for Rent May 2001 12 
			 Report of the Review Group on the Royal Peculiars July 2001 11 
			 Administrative Court: Proposed changes to primary legislation following Sir Jeffrey Bowman's Review of the Crown Office List July 2001 12 
			 Towards Effective Enforcement: A single piece of bailiff law and a regulatory structure July 2001 12 
			 Payments into court in satisfaction of a claim August 2001 13 
			 Report of the Review of Tribunals by Sir Andrew Leggatt August 2001 15 
			 General Preaction Protocol October 2001 16

Consultation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, which consultation documents published by her Department in 2001 were not made available as paper copies.

Rosie Winterton: None.

Legal Services

David Kidney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what proposals she has for reforming the regulation of legal services.

Rosie Winterton: None. Neither I nor the Lord Chancellor have proposals for reforming the regulation of legal services at present.

Mentally Incapacitated People

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans she has to bring forward legislation following the consultation paper Making decisions: helping people who have difficulty in deciding for themselves.

Rosie Winterton: The Government remain committed to reforming this important area of the law. When parliamentary time allows, they will legislate to improve and clarify the decision-making process for those who are unable to make decisions for themselves or who cannot communicate their decisions. In advance of securing parliamentary time, the Government are taking forward a number of initiatives which will benefit people today and enable legislation to be quickly effective. One such initiative is the best practice guidance leaflets proposed in the consultation paper referred to by my hon. Friend.

Mentally Incapacitated People

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department with reference to the consultation on 'Making Decisions: Helping People who have Difficulty in Deciding for Themselves', what discussions she plans to have with elected members on the issue of extending legal protection for those patients who are unable to communicate for themselves.

Rosie Winterton: When parliamentary time allows, the Government will legislate to improve and clarify the decision-making process for those who are unable to make decisions for themselves or who cannot communicate their decisions. I have already met some hon. Members at their request to discuss issues arising from this consultation paper, and recently took part in a parliamentary seminar to discuss the legislation. I would be happy to meet other hon. Members.

Clinical Negligence

Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many claimants have successfully claimed legal aid costs in clinical negligence cases against the NHS in the last (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the form requested.
	The number of publicly funded clinical negligence casesreported as having been concludedin which the claimant was successful in obtaining damages and full payment of their solicitor's costs, leaving no deficit on the legal aid fund was as follows:
	(a) in the last five years199798 to 20010210,881
	(b) in the last 10 years199293 to 20010219,568.
	As a result of the changes to the Legal Services Commission's computer systems, information is not available for the last 20 years.
	The figures exclude cases which were settled without costs in full, or which went to trial (the latter being a very small number). This means that the figures underestimate the success rate of cases because they exclude settled cases where most costs are recovered, save a residual claim against the legal aid fund for part of the costs; and cases which succeeded with full costs at trial.
	The figures given do not relate exclusively to cases brought against the NHS. It is not possible to separate cases which involve the NHS from those which do not.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Telephone Bills (Pensioners Concessions)

Joan Walley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to discuss with the regulator concessions for pensioners' telephone bills; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	All telecoms customers, including pensioners, have benefited from price reductions of over 50 per cent. since 19984. In addition BT is required by Oftel to provide a Light User Scheme (LUS) targeted at low users, including pensioners. The LUS enables those on the scheme to obtain rebates on their total bill.

Children's Play Areas

Mark Tami: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department gives to local authorities regarding the (a) provision and (b) size of children's play areas.

Richard Caborn: I have been asked to reply.
	In Wales, responsibility for Children's Play issues rests with the National Assembly for Wales, who are in the process of producing a play policy for Wales, and not with Whitehall Departments, who are only responsible for play matters in England.
	In December 2000, DCMS produced a guidance document for English local authorities entitled Creating Opportunities, which encourages local authorities to develop and implement Local Cultural Strategies. The guidance explicitly lists play as something to be within the scope of cultural strategies, encompassing: children's play, playgrounds and play activities, parks and open spaces.
	DCMS also funded Play as Culture, researched and published by Playlink, a document which provides detailed guidance about incorporating play in cultural strategies. It was co-sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the then Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, and was publicised and disseminated via the Local Government Association (LGA), the Institute of Leisure and Management and Early Years Partnerships. There is also soon to be a weblink directly to the document on the Playlink website from the DCMS website and a second round of distribution is about to begin.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently revising Planning Policy Guidance note 17: Sports, Recreation and Open Space (PPG17) which will provide guidance on the provision of a full range of urban open spaces, including play space. The revision, along with associated good practice guidance, will provide guidance for improving local assessments of need for such spaces and for carrying out audits of existing spaces. While these will encourage the setting of local standards for provision of new spaces, they will not give any specific guidance on the size of play spaces.

Social Services

Clive Efford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what has been the change in expenditure from original budget allocations in London boroughs on (a) children's social services, (b) older people, (c) learning disabilities, (d) mental health and (e) services for physically disabled in the last five years;
	(2)  if he will list actual spend against original budget estimates for London boroughs' social services budgets (a) in cash and (b) as a percentage (i) for each borough and (ii) for London as a whole in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Social Services

Clive Efford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average variation is from SSA for London local authority social services budgets (a) in cash and (b) as a percentage for (i) each borough and (ii) London as a whole in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The tables compare personal social services standard spending assessment (SSA) with local authority social services budgets, which have been adjusted to make them comparable with SSA. The figures provided are for each local authority and for London as a whole, for each of the last five years.
	
		Personal social services budgets for comparison with SSA
		
			  PSS SSA Budget Budget PSS SSA Budget Budget PSS SSA Budget Budget 
			  199798 ( million) 199798 ( million) Over SSA (percentage) 199899 ( million) 199899 ( million) Over SSA (percentage) 19992000 ( million) 19992000 ( million) Over SSA (percentage) 
		
		
			 Inner London  
			 City of London 1.561 5.819 272.7 1.563 5.189 232.0 2.141 4.943 130.9 
			 Camden 61.539 65.952 7.2 61.751 71.470 15.7 62.276 73.751 18.4 
			 Greenwich 53.365 58.745 10.1 54.460 59.659 9.5 59.829 65.873 10.1 
			 Hackney 75.700 79.263 4.7 74.325 79.206 6.6 70.924 84.831 19.6 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 46.983 52.350 11.4 47.201 55.307 17.2 47.450 58.851 24.0 
			 Islington 61.641 69.031 12.0 62.989 69.844 10.9 63.842 69.087 8.2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 40.373 50.278 24.5 41.484 51.912 25.1 42.924 54.716 27.5 
			 Lambeth 86.801 84.092 -3.1 88.775 87.513 -1.4 85.677 92.832 8.4 
			 Lewisham 69.408 63.984 -7.8 71.877 70.511 -1.9 72.399 75.404 4.2 
			 Southwark 73.657 81.467 10.6 74.806 83.921 12.2 81.220 89.609 10.3 
			 Tower Hamlets 59.032 64.110 8.6 63.511 66.931 5.4 70.136 72.423 3.3 
			 Wandsworth 66.987 73.887 10.3 68.153 76.027 11.6 70.929 74.311 4.8 
			 Westminster 57.804 73.382 26.9 58.871 73.807 25.4 63.180 80.359 27.2 
			   
			 Outer London  
			 Barking and Dagenham 30.899 33.896 9.7 33.451 35.975 7.5 40.115 42.054 4.8 
			 Barnet 51.638 57.948 12.2 56.293 63.754 13.3 57.160 67.591 18.2 
			 Bexley 27.410 32.105 17.1 30.511 36.846 20.8 34.958 40.834 16.8 
			 Brent 57.553 52.681 -8.5 62.388 52.592 -15.7 57.980 55.850 -3.7 
			 Bromley 39.743 52.312 31.6 42.433 49.894 17.6 45.988 54.424 18.3 
			 Croydon 51.948 60.794 17.0 55.453 62.182 12.1 57.303 68.308 19.2 
			 Ealing 57.287 57.566 0.5 62.257 60.223 -3.3 62.472 63.983 2.4 
			 Enfield 43.305 50.091 15.7 47.445 50.862 7.2 51.591 49.899 -3.3 
			 Haringey 58.229 58.297 0.1 60.534 59.613 -1.5 56.376 62.098 10.1 
			 Harrow 30.748 41.087 33.6 34.686 43.498 25.4 35.983 44.520 23.7 
			 Havering 28.742 38.919 35.4 31.752 39.225 23.5 34.526 40.702 17.9 
			 Hillingdon 35.322 40.595 14.9 37.911 46.972 23.9 40.156 49.835 24.1 
			 Hounslow 38.979 43.126 10.6 40.673 44.576 9.6 42.113 47.545 12.9 
			 Kingston upon Thames 19.135 25.907 35.4 20.269 26.542 30.9 21.483 28.146 31.0 
			 Merton 28.333 31.030 9.5 30.422 31.483 3.5 33.010 31.976 -3.1 
			 Newham 60.752 70.486 16.0 65.129 77.517 19.0 62.896 77.427 23.1 
			 Redbridge 35.115 37.603 7.1 39.465 39.625 0.4 41.741 45.078 8.0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 25.255 29.541 17.0 26.442 30.466 15.2 27.734 32.348 16.6 
			 Sutton 25.415 30.134 18.6 27.193 31.788 16.9 29.319 33.586 14.6 
			 Waltham Forest 48.411 53.592 10.7 51.887 56.382 8.7 54.001 58.609 8.5 
			 Total London 1,549.071 1,720.070 11.0 1,626.361 1,791.312 10.1 1,679.830 1,891.803 12.6 
		
	
	
		
			  PSS SSA Budget Budget PSS SSA Budget Budget 
			  200001 ( million) 200001 ( million) Over SSA (percentage) 200102 ( million) 200102 ( million) Over SSA (percentage) 
		
		
			 Inner London   
			 City of London 2.234 5.290 136.8 2.349 6.849 191.6 
			 Camden 65.504 74.194 13.3 68.067 76.978 13.1 
			 Greenwich 62.953 69.876 11.0 63.824 70.987 11.2 
			 Hackney(21) 75.190 76.484 1.7 77.171 75.216 -2.5 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 49.832 58.180 16.8 51.577 58.726 13.9 
			 Islington 67.969 69.409 2.1 67.954 73.402 8.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 46.549 56.998 22.4 49.290 57.802 17.3 
			 Lambeth 90.876 89.552 -1.5 92.374 94.685 2.5 
			
			 Lewisham 75.338 78.347 4.0 75.867 77.076 1.6 
			 Southwark 85.596 89.724 4.8 87.510 95.564 9.2 
			 Tower Hamlets 73.557 73.707 0.2 75.331 76.520 1.6 
			 Wandsworth 73.659 75.775 2.9 74.746 76.681 2.6 
			 Westminster 67.906 83.290 22.7 71.692 81.863 14.2 
			
			 Outer London   
			 Barking and Dagenham 42.391 43.759 3.2 44.148 45.712 3.5 
			 Barnet 60.378 69.848 15.7 63.692 77.357 21.5 
			 Bexley 36.583 42.551 16.3 38.251 43.702 14.2 
			 Brent 60.324 58.112 -3.7 61.747 59.518 -3.6 
			 Bromley 47.478 57.455 21.0 49.695 60.352 21.4 
			 Croydon 59.888 69.750 16.5 61.631 71.902 16.7 
			 Ealing 65.415 67.090 2.6 68.086 82.029 20.5 
			 Enfield 54.113 51.974 -4.0 56.839 58.252 2.5 
			 Haringey 59.406 45.300 -23.7 61.138 62.874 2.8 
			 Harrow 37.664 45.235 20.1 39.300 47.716 21.4 
			 Havering 36.336 41.308 13.7 38.514 41.869 8.7 
			 Hillingdon 42.237 51.171 21.2 44.054 53.820 22.2 
			 Hounslow 44.080 49.463 12.2 45.783 52.872 15.5 
			 Kingston upon Thames 22.456 29.134 29.7 23.387 30.965 32.4 
			 Merton 34.067 36.936 8.4 35.052 39.372 12.3 
			 Newham 66.482 78.463 18.0 68.797 75.211 9.3 
			 Redbridge 43.796 46.541 6.3 45.514 47.833 5.1 
			 Richmond upon Thames 29.171 33.216 13.9 30.779 33.545 9.0 
			 Sutton 30.153 34.021 12.8 31.174 36.234 16.2 
			 Waltham Forest 56.118 58.678 4.6 56.900 57.656 1.3 
			  
			 Total London 1,765.698 1,910.831 8.2 1,822.230 2,001.140 9.8 
		
	
	(21) Provisional 200002

Compulsory Purchase

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what conclusions he has reached following the consultation exercise on his proposals for reforming the system of compulsory purchase and compensation.

John Prescott: In my oral statement to the House today I referred to our proposals for planning reform. I announced that I am publishing today our response to the recent Planning Green Paper consultation, copies of which are in the House Library. I am also making public a more detailed statement entitled Compulsory Purchase Powers, Procedures and Compensation; the way forward, copies of which are available in the House Library and on the ODPM website. This summarises our policy in the light of the responses to the December 2001 consultation paper.
	The paper sets out our plans for making compulsory purchase and compensation simpler, fairer and quicker through a change to the compulsory purchase power for planning purposes, and through changes to procedures and compensation arrangements.
	The Law Commission is continuing its work on consolidation, codification and modernisation of the current legislation, and will consult on its initial conclusions shortly.

Regional Strategy

Tony Clarke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes he proposes to make to the arrangements for producing Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Frameworks, further to the Planning Green Paper.

John Prescott: In my oral statement to the House today I referred to our proposals for planning reform. I announced that I am publishing today our response to the recent Planning Green Paper consultation, copies of which are in the House Library. I am also publishing a more detailed paper entitled Making the System Work BetterPlanning at Regional and Local Levels on our proposals for creating Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Frameworks. I am placing copies of that in the House Library and on the ODPM website.

HEALTH

NHS Trusts

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on not-for-profit organisations contributing to the running of (a) hospital trusts and (b) primary care trusts.

John Hutton: At present organisations outside of the national health service do not contribute to the management of any NHS trusts, including acute hospital trusts and primary care trusts.
	The Department is setting up a register of interest for organisations outside of the NHS which are interested in taking on the management franchise for poorly performing NHS trusts. The register may include not-for- profit organisations.

Rural Hospitals

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding will be made available to rural hospitals across the new strategic health authorities.

John Hutton: We currently allocate funding to health authorities, and they allocate funding to primary care trusts, on the basis of the relative needs of their populations.
	It is for health authorities in partnership with primary care trusts and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.
	In future the intention is that allocations will be made direct to primary care trusts. Primary care trusts will then purchase appropriate services to meet the needs of their local populations, which may include services from rural hospitals.

Mixed-sex Wards

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress the Government have made in eliminating single sex wards; what plans he has to eliminate them; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Guidance on maintaining privacy and dignity was first issued to the service in 1997 and since then the national health service has been working towards a clear target to provide single sex accommodation.
	The target set is for three objectives to be achieved in 95 per cent. of trusts by December 2002.
	The three objectives are:
	Ensuring that appropriate organisational arrangements are in place to secure good standards of privacy and dignity for hospital patients;
	Achieving fully the Patient's Charter standard for segregated washing and toilet facilities across the NHS;
	Providing safe facilities for patients in hospital who are mentally ill which safeguard their privacy and dignity.
	Trusts are required to re-assess and report their position annually. This information has been collected through health authorities. Separate validation programmes are undertaken to ensure that information provided is robust and reliable.
	We are working with the NHS to provide professional and technical support to ensure progress towards meeting this target continues.

Mixed-sex Wards

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names of mixed-sex wards in operation, broken down by region.

John Hutton: The information requested is not available in this format as compliance is measured on a trust by trust basis and not at individual ward level.
	The reasons for measuring at trust level is because hospital wards generally care for both men and women. To provide the required levels of privacy and dignity for patients, wards are split into single sex bays, or single rooms, or otherwise configured to provide adequate segregation of gender. It is the responsibility of each national health service trust to determine the most appropriate configuration to meet their specific requirements.

Mixed-sex Wards

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sexual harassment and sexual abuse cases there have been in (a) mixed-sex wards and (b) single sex wards, over the past five years.

John Hutton: We do not collect this information centrally. Each national health service trust should ensure appropriate security arrangements are in place, covering staff as well as patients.

Cancelled Operations

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled in each medical professional competency in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Data are not collected on the number of cancelled operations broken down by medical professional competencies. Data on the number of operations cancelled by the hospital, for non-medical reasons, on, or after the day the patient was due to be admitted are available in the Library.

Violence Against NHS Staff

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to announce the findings of the NHS survey into violence against NHS staff.

John Hutton: The results of the Department's survey of reported violent or abusive incidents, accidents involving staff and sickness absence in national health service trusts and health authorities in England in 200001 was published in June 2002. The survey found that there were 84,273 reported violent or abusive incidents against staff in 200001. A copy of the report has already been placed in the Library.

Hospital Nurseries

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospitals provide on-site nurseries; and what estimate his Department has made of the number of NHS hospitals that intend to provide on-site nurseries by (a) 31 December 2002 (b) 31 December 2003 and (c) 31 December 2004.

John Hutton: holding answer 10 July 2002
	A national survey of national health service child care provision, undertaken early in 2001, found that 114 NHS trusts provided nursery facilities for their staff. Since April 2001, a further 94 schemes have had capital funding agreed as part of the NHS child care strategy, which is aiming to develop 150 new on-site nursery schemes by April 2004. In 200203 we expect at least 50 new nurseries, or extensions of existing nurseries to be opened providing an additional 2,500 places.

Nurses

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to protect patients from the risks posed by nurses who carry HIV.

Hazel Blears: Existing guidelines place nurses and other health care workers, who are or may be HIV infected, under ethical and legal duties to protect the health and safety of their patients by seeking counselling and HIV testing if they believe they have been at risk of infection. If infected, they are required to seek and follow confidential occupational health advice about the need to modify or limit their working practices.
	While the safety of patients is of paramount importance, it should be recognised that the procedures involved in most nursing duties do not pose a risk of HIV infection to patients, provided normal infection control precautions are observed. There have been no reported cases of HIV transmission from infected health care workers to patients in the UK.

Nurses

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what checks he makes on foreign nurses for HIV before they are employed in the United Kingdom.

John Hutton: Nurses recruited into the national health service from abroad are subject to the same pre- appointment checks as those recruited within the United Kingdom. NHS employers are required to satisfy themselves of the immunisation status of applicants and only when an applicant does not pose a risk of infection to patients from infectious diseases should employment be recommended.
	Being HIV positive is not a bar to NHS employment but does preclude certain invasive (exposure prone) procedures being performed such as surgery and midwifery.

Nurses

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Geraldine Smith) of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 310W, on nurses, how many nurse consultant posts have been introduced; and of these how many are new nurses to have been recruited to these roles.

John Hutton: Over 750 nurse, midwife and health visitor consultants posts have now been approved in 10 tranches, the first in January 2000 and the latest in June 2002.
	Nurse, midwife and health visitor consultants appointees are senior, experienced practitioners with advanced education and qualifications relevant to the speciality to which they are appointed. Guidance issued to the national health service, Health Service Circular 1999/217, makes it clear that selection should be by fair and open competition.

Medical Devices Agency

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the 200102 annual report of the Medical Devices Agency.

David Lammy: The report and accounts of the Medical Devices Agency have today been laid before the House of Commons pursuant to section 7 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. Copies have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Overseas Treatment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many NHS patients treated elsewhere in Europe have subsequently required further referrals;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the quality of outcomes of NHS patients treated elsewhere in Europe.

John Hutton: Information about follow-up care following inpatient treatment and associated referrals for further treatment is not collected centrally from the national health service. NHS organisations may collect and analyse this kind of information, among other indicators of quality, as part of their local clinical governance arrangements designed to assure and continuously improve the quality of care for all NHS patients. Primary care trusts and NHS trusts are responsible for ensuring that NHS patients receive high clinical standards of care wherever they are treated.

ME

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the effects of holistic and complementary therapies in helping patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Jacqui Smith: The recent report of the chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) working group noted patients' comments to the effect that certain complementary therapies were helpful in alleviating some symptoms. It also noted a need for guidance in using such therapies.
	Guidance is currently being prepared by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on palliative care for cancer patients, including the use of complementary therapies. This may be of some help to CFS/ME sufferers.

Mental Health

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of emergency psychiatric readmissions was in (a) 199798, (b) 19992000 and (c) 200102.

Jacqui Smith: The rate of emergency psychiatric re-admissions for 199798 was 14.3 per cent.; 19992000 was 13 per cent. and 200102 was 12.7 per cent.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health crisis resolution teams have been established since the publication of the NHS Plan.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 10 July 2002
	As at autumn 2001 there were 52 mental health crisis resolution teams.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which region has the smallest percentage of assertive outreach services for mental health; and if he will make a statement as to the reasons.

Jacqui Smith: North-western region has the lowest proportion of assertive outreach services with 14 teams. This constitutes approximately 7.7 per cent. of all teams and reflects the lower demand of the local population: 9.4 cases per 100,000 individuals compared with the national average of 17.5 cases for the same number of people.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many staff work in mental health early intervention teams in England;
	(2)  what the total work force in community mental health teams was in each of the last five years.

John Hutton: holding answers 11 July 2002
	The Department does not collect information covering all components of early intervention schemes and community mental health teams. However, the Centre for Public Mental Health at Durham University has been sponsored by the Department to develop mapping of the mental health work force. Further work is required to validate the returns but their latest information, available at www.dur.ac.uk/ service mapping, provides the best information we have on the distribution of the mental health work force.
	Community psychiatric nurses are a key element of both teams and community learning difficulties nurses are important for the delivery of community mental health services. Between 1997 and 2001 the numbers of nurses working in these specialties have increased by 25 per cent. and 28 per cent. respectively. Further information is shown in the table.
	
		NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Qualified nursing staff working in the community psychiatric and community learning disabilities areas of work in England as at 30 September each year
		
			  Whole-time equivalents  Headcount 
		
		
			 1997   
			 All qualified staff 11,940 12,960 
			 of which:   
			 Community psychiatric 9,010 9,740 
			 Community learning disabilities 2,930 3,230 
			
			 1998   
			 All qualified staff 12,480 13,610 
			 of which:   
			 Community psychiatric 9,460 10,230 
			 Community learning disabilities 3,020 3,380 
			
			 1999   
			 All qualified staff 12,930 14,110 
			 of which:   
			 Community psychiatric 9,710 10,550 
			 Community learning disabilities 3,210 3,560 
			
			 2000   
			 All qualified staff 13,530 14,850 
			 of which:   
			 Community psychiatric 10,190 11,080 
			 Community learning disabilities 3,340 3,770 
			
			 2001   
			 All qualified staff 14,690 16,380 
			 of which:   
			 Community psychiatric 11,040 12,220 
			 Community learning disabilities 3,650 3,160 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
	2. Figures exclude agency staff
	3. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts
	Source:
	Department of Health non-medical workforce census

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the NHS budget was spent on mental health in (a) 200001 and (b) 200102.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 July 2002
	The expenditure figures for 200001 will not be available until late August 2002. The expenditure figures for 200102 will not be available until late August 2003.

Mr. Kolathuv Unni

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the circumstances (a) in which Mr. Kolathuv Unni was allowed to practise psychiatry in the NHS, having previously been struck off by the General Medical Council and (b) the General Medical Council took into account when they reinstated him to the register.

John Hutton: holding answer 11 July 2002
	There is no bar on working in the national health service if an individual has been restored to the medical register following erasure. NHS employers must make informed decisions based on the information provided during the recruitment process.
	Guidance on pre- and post-appointment checks for NHS staff has recently been strengthened. This includes a requirement for applicants for certain posts to make a declaration regarding any previous disqualifications from the practice of a profession by a regulatory body in the United Kingdom or in another country.
	Decisions on whether or not to restore an individual to the register are a matter for the General Medical Council. However, the GMC has agreed to respond to the second part of this question upon receipt of a written request from the hon. Member.

Mr. Kolathuv Unni

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigations were made by UK authorities in New Zealand into the conduct of Mr. Kolathuv Unni (a) prior to his initial recruitment to the NHS and (b) at the time of his successful application to be re-admitted to the medical register.

John Hutton: holding answer 11 July 2002
	This is a matter for the General Medical Council, the independent statutory body responsible for the registration of doctors to practise medicine in the United Kingdom. They have agreed to provide this information direct on receipt of a written request from my hon. Friend.

Child Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Weston- Super-Mare (Brian Cotter) of 4 July 2002, Official Report, column 574W, on child care, how much remuneration an NHS child care co-ordinator receives.

John Hutton: The remuneration of childcare co-ordinators is a matter for local determination. Guidance issued by the Department in 2001, recommended a starting salary in line with general Whitley Council pay scales for administrative and clerical staff grade 6/7, spring point 2432. In 200203 this equates to 19,592-27,887 per annum.

Carers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage an increased number of foster carers.

Jacqui Smith: Foster carer recruitment is a very important area, in which a lot of work is being taken forward. The Department is currently undertaking a major review (Choice Protects) of the commissioning of placements, with a special emphasis on foster care servicesso that choice and stability of placements may be improved for children in care. Within this, we will be examining:
	Role and status of foster carers;
	Recruitment and retention;
	What support services are required;
	Best ways to reward foster carers;
	The training needs of foster carers.

Carers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assessments of carer needs have been carried out, broken down by carer age groups, since the introduction of the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000.

Jacqui Smith: This information is currently being collated and will be published in late autumn as part of Community Care Statistics 200102: Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care, for Adults.

Climbi Inquiry

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will produce a timetable for the publication of findings from the Climbi Inquiry.

Jacqui Smith: Lord Laming continues to receive and to consider evidence, and intends to complete his report later this year. It will be published, following its receipt by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health and the Home Department, and will be made widely available.

Social Workers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many extra social workers are in training as a result of the Government's campaign to increase the number of social workers.

Jacqui Smith: The main aim of the social care recruitment campaign is to raise the number of people applying for social work training by 5,000 by 2004. As the earliest that someone reacting to the campaign could join a course is autumn 2002, we do not yet have any information on numbers of extra social workers in training. These figures will be published in December 2002 by the social work admissions service.

Asylum Seekers

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the conclusions were of the review of milk tokens for pregnant women in asylum-seeking families; and what changes he plans to make.

Hazel Blears: The review of the welfare food scheme did not look specifically at pregnant women in asylum seeking families. Pregnant women who receive certain social security benefits (income support or an income- based jobseeker's allowance) are entitled to receive milk tokens. Pregnant women who do not receive social security benefits are supported by the national asylum support service.

Careers Information

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average response time is between prospective NHS employees registering online for information on careers in the national health service and subsequently receiving information; and what guidelines he has issued.

John Hutton: The national health service careers service was established in April 1999 by the Department to provide accurate and up-to-date information on careers throughout the NHS. It has a website www.nhs.uk/careers through which publications can be ordered.
	It is not possible to give the average response time between ordering and receipt of publications as we do not know when the requested items are received.
	The service level agreement for responding to online requests sets out that at least 95 per cent. of the requests must be sent out within 48 hours. The requested items are posted second class.

Premature Retirement

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff, broken down by employment type, are expected to take premature retirement during 200203.

John Hutton: holding answer 14 May 2002
	Premature retirement is one of the factors that make up overall wastage from the national health service work force. Wastage is taken into account in the Department's modelling but is not broken down into its component parts.

Regional Wage Differentials

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that regional wage differentials are reflected in the funding of the national health service.

John Hutton: Allocations made to the national health service already take account of differential regional staffing costs. The weighted capitation formula used to calculate health authority target shares of revenue allocations includes a staff market forces factor. The aim of the staff market forces factor is to reflect the unavoidable geographical variation in staff costs that NHS employers incur.
	In addition for 200203 a further 101 million was allocated to the high cost areas of London and the South of England to fund cost of living supplements for qualified nurses and some allied health professionals.
	Future arrangements are being kept under review and will take account of the outcome of the negotiations on a new NHS pay system.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South of 15 May, reference number 56711, on financial assistance to nurses; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I replied to the hon. Member on 8 July 2002, Official Report, column 777W.

Parliamentary Questions

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the holding reply dated 1 July to written question 291 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, when he intends to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member dated 23 May with regard to Mr. J. Greenhalgh.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	I will be replying, in light of the Chancellor's Spending Review statement, shortly.

HOME DEPARTMENT

External Consultants

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much expenditure his Department has incurred in each year since 1997 on employing external consultants to deal with the press and public relations of his Department.

Beverley Hughes: The total expenditure incurred by the Home Department since 1997 on employing external consultants to deal with the press and public relations of the Department is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Expenditure () 
		
		
			 1997 0 
			 1998 0 
			 1999 81,299 
			 2000 172,314 
			 2001 352,881 
			 2002 0 
		
	
	These costs include the modernisation of the Home Office Press Office to provide a better service to journalists, the launch of the Police Recruitment Campaign, the establishment of the Home Office website and the launch of the Child Protection on the internet campaign.

Public-private Partnerships (Consultants)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total external spending by his Department was on public- private partnership consultants in each of the last four years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PPP consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not available in the format requested. To provide the hon. Member with a full answer would incur disproportionate cost. I can, however, provide information detailing total spend on consultancy work on public- private partnerships (PPPs) in each of the last four years and also the number of consultancy firms used by the Home Office and its agencies on PPP projects over this period. This is as follows:
	Total spend on PPP consultants:
	1998: 103,563
	1999: 89,473
	2000: 2,926,936
	2001: 7,298,967.
	Number of consultancy firms used by the Home Department on PPP projects:
	1998: 1
	1999: 2
	2000: 4
	2001: 4.
	The increase in expenditure is largely due to two projects, firstly the setting up of the Criminal Records Bureau and secondly various business change services relating to Immigration and Nationality Department's programme to enable the improvement of case management.

Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated (a) level and (b) cost of energy use in his Department and associated agencies was in each year since 1997; what proportion of energy was generated from renewable sources; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend, the Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth on 3 July 2002, Official Report, column 385W.

Identity Cards

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the projected costs of implementing the identity card proposals.

Beverley Hughes: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made a statement to the House on 3 July, announcing the publication of a consultation paper on Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud. The consultation period will last until 10 January 2003. The Government has made it clear that the introduction of an entitlement card would be a major step and that it would not proceed without consulting widely and considering all the views expressed very carefully.
	The paper includes a number of estimates of what a scheme would cost, depending on the sophistication of the card. A reasonable estimate would be that a scheme would cost around 1.5 billion over a 13 year period covering the three years it would take to set up the necessary Information Technology systems and the 10 year period for which the first cards would be valid.
	This would include much more stringent identity checks than currently apply for passports and driving licences in response to increased levels of fraudulent applications.
	It would also include the costs of using biometric information (fingerprints or iris images) which would uniquely link the card holder with a card.
	This estimate does not include any savings to Government through more efficient administration and reductions in fraud. The paper also sets out how the costs might be recovered through increases in fees for driving licences and passports and charging a fee for entitlement cards issued to those who did not qualify for or who did not want to apply for a card in the form of a photocard driving licence or passport card. It would not be the Government's intention to use funds allocated for investment in public services for a card scheme.

Entertainment Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for 199798 and for each subsequent financial year, including the current year to date, the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on (i) food and (ii) alcohol, indicating how much was spent on guests, and how much in respect of (A) Ministers and (B) staff, broken down to show how much was provided directly by his Department and how much reclaimed.

Beverley Hughes: The detailed information required is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The available information relating to expenditure on hospitality and entertainment by the department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies is shown in the table:
	
		 
		
			 Financial years Expenditure 
		
		
			 199798 68,803 
			 199899 84,468 
			 19992000 91,509 
			 200001 74,655 
		
	
	Expenditure by Ministers on hospitality and entertainment averages four per cent. of the Departmental total each year.

Overseas Visits

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in his Department; and what the (a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case.

Beverley Hughes: The following table lists the total cost, to the Home Office and its agencies, of official duty visits abroad in each of the past five years.
	The other information is not collected in the format the hon. Member requires and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		 
		
			  Core Home Office Forensic Science Service Passport Agency Prison Service 
		
		
			 200102 3,907,148 264,490 10,705 32,946 
			 200001 2,416,802 221,425 26,420 97,681 
			 19992000 2,295,825 220,843 58,816 124,441 
			 199899 1,731,182 149,176 18,435 56,157 
			 199798 2,724,330 142,219 5,223 48,827

Comprehensive Spending Review

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff have contributed to his Department's input to the Spending Review.

Beverley Hughes: Staff from the different business areas of the Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) have contributed to the Home Office input to the Spending Review but it is not possible to quantify the amount of their time spent on this work. No central record has been kept.

Building Values

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the buildings owned by his Department and estimate the market value of each of them.

Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 3 July 2002, Official Report, column 340W.

Staff Training

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Department has spent on staff training and development in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The Department recognises that the development of the skills, knowledge and experience of our staff is crucial to the delivery of business objectives and to helping staff achieve their career aspirations. The Department is, therefore, committed to ensuring that effective and affordable learning opportunities are available to staff. We have achieved the Investors in People Standard and are committed to ensuring that training and development are effectively focused on achieving our aims.
	The following information is an estimate of the total amount spent on training and development in the Home Office and its executive agencies; it does not include the cost of many informal learning activities since such costs often go unrecorded:
	199798: 22 million
	199899: 25.1 million
	19992000: 27.3 million
	200001: 28.1 million
	200102: 35.2 million.

Castle Award

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has applied for a Castle award for equal pay.

Beverley Hughes: Since the inception of the Castle awards on 8 March 2002, the Home Office and its related agencies have not applied for such an award. The Department is in the process of conducting Equal Pay audits and when these have been completed, it is possible they may apply.

Work-related Illness

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims for work-related illness were settled by his Department in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost in compensation was.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 20 May 2002
	Information on claims for work-related illness and compensation payments are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department is aware of its obligations to provide a safe working environment and takes steps to ensure that it meets the requirements of health and safety legislation.
	The Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy Statement published in June 2000 set targets for all stakeholders aimed at reducing inter alia
	the number of working days lost from work-related injury and ill health by 30 per cent. by 2010;
	the incidence rate of cases of work-related ill health by 20 per cent. by 2010; and
	achieving half the improvement under each target by 2004.

Green Minister

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who his Department's Green Minister is; when they (a) have attended and (b) plan to attend meetings of the Green Ministers' Committee; what the outcomes of meetings were for his Department's activities; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office Green Minister is my noble Friend Lord Filkin who was appointed to the ENV(G) Committee in June 2002. Having only recently been appointed he has yet to attend any of the Committee's meetings but intends to do so in the future.
	It is established practice under exemption two of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.

Immigration

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce a buddy system for immigrants similar to the one practised in Canada.

Beverley Hughes: The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill presently before Parliament contains provision for language and citizenship education for people seeking naturalisation. A group of experts is to be formed to advise my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, on how these proposals might be implemented in practice. Among other things, the group will be asked to advise on the practicality of a national voluntary scheme for mentors to assist naturalisation applicants in making contacts in their local community.
	Membership of the advisory group will be announced shortly.
	In addition, a European refugee fund grant has been secured in respect of a mentoring project for refugees in London, Birmingham and Glasgow. The project, Time to Belong, is organised by TimeBank, a registered charity, and aims to provide mentors and coaches for 150 refugees.

People Trafficking

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is a specific offence in United Kingdom law on the trafficking of human beings; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Government are committed to ensuring that stronger measures are in place to penalise people who traffic in human beings. We have signed the protocol on trafficking to the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime and have negotiated an European Union Framework Decision, which commits the United Kingdom to introducing offences of trafficking for the purposes of labour or sexual exploitation within two years of its adoption.
	We have acted quickly to deal with the worst forms of exploitation by creating a new offence of trafficking for the purposes of controlling someone in prostitution within the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill currently before Parliament. It will carry a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment, as for drug trafficking offences. This is a stop gap offence pending more wide-ranging offences of trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation when parliamentary time permits, which will implement our international obligations.

Asylum Seekers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the mechanism by which the holder of an asylum seeker's identification card can obtain access to the information contained on the card.

Beverley Hughes: The personal information contained on the card is that provided by the holder when the card is created. The holder is shown a copy of the information when the card is created. The card can only be updated at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) offices on the authorised system equipment. This would necessitate the holder's attendance and therefore their knowledge that the data held on the card had been updated.
	The information held on the card is available on application to the Subject Access Bureau on payment of a fee of 10 payable to the Home Office Accounting Officer.
	The address of the bureau for Immigration and Nationality Department inquiries is:
	Subject Access Bureau
	Home Office
	Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road
	Croydon
	CR9 2BY.

Asylum Seekers

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers in London were (a) supported by the London boroughs, (b) supported by the National Asylum Support Service through the provision of emergency accommodation, (c) supported by the London boroughs and National Asylum Support Service through the scheme for disbenefited asylum seekers and (d) received assistance in the form of vouchers or cash only provided by the National Asylum Support Service in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not available in the exact form requested.
	The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) took on responsibility for supporting asylum seekers from April 2000 when it began operation. Before that time asylum seekers were supported by local authorities or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). NASS is responsible for supporting disbenefited asylum seekers who initially applied for asylum at a United Kingdom port of entry before 3 April 2000, were receiving support from DWP, had a negative decision recorded on their claim on or after 25 September 2000 which ended their entitlement to benefits, but who have subsequently appealed against that decision.
	The only available figures for the number of asylum seekers supported by the London boroughs come from local authority grant claims sent to the Home Office as at September 2001. These show that local authorities in the London boroughs were supporting 14,420 1 singles and 11,060 1 families. Figures including dependants are not available. Figures for cases supported by NASS are not available by London borough.
	The number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported by NASS in emergency accommodation in London was 5,900 2 as at the end of December 2000, and 3,200 2 as at the end of December 2001.
	As at the end of December 2001 NASS was supporting 820 1 asylum seekers (including dependants) in London through the scheme for disbenefited asylum seekers. There were no asylum seekers being supported by NASS in London through this scheme as at the end of December 2000.
	NASS did not support asylum seekers before April 2000. The number of asylum seekers (including dependants) receiving subsistence only support from NASS and staying in the London region was 6,210 1 as at the end of December 2000, and 17,910 1 as at the end of December 2001.
	1 Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
	2 Figures rounded to the nearest 100.

Asylum Seekers

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unaccompanied asylum- seeker children were supported by each of the London boroughs in (a) 19992000, (b) 200001 and (c) 200102; and how much funding was (i) applied for by and (ii) allocated to each local authority in London to meet the cost of essential social support services for such children.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office assumed responsibility for reimbursing local authorities for supporting Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) as of 1 April 2000 and does not have records for 19992000. Local authorities under either section 20 or section 17 of the Children Act 1989 for support provide these amounts.
	The table shows the numbers supported by each of the London boroughs from the grant claims submitted and also the amounts claimed and paid.
	
		
			 Local authority Applied and allocated 200001 () Number supported 26 January 2001 Applied and allocated 200102 () Number supported 25 January 2002 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,564,594 241 4,505,858 262 
			 Barnet 759,200 62 932,001 60 
			 Bexley 693,500 73 567,037 46 
			 Brent 1,288,108 58 2,494,028 158 
			 Bromley 381,600 34 385,400 32 
			 Camden 1,089,600 89 1,602,600 102 
			 Corporation of London 114,400 14 171,600 15 
			 Croydon 3,317,637 177 7,045,280 373 
			 Ealing 2,263,765 130 1,835,648 114 
			 Enfield 674,145 76 1,368,328 144 
			 Greenwich 660,926 109 2,231,482 185 
			 Hackney 744,545 64 769,344 92 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,131,375 166 4,154,800 144 
			 Haringey 4,972,861 399 4,609,375 324 
			 Harrow 605,200 46 726,971 43 
			 Havering 875,095 67 548,600 29 
			 Hillingdon 7,308,233 358 9,516,020 550 
			 Hounslow 568,800 47 718,000 64 
			 Islington 4,988,216 347 6,245,750 336 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,097,325 109 2,068,675 100 
			 Kingston Upon Thames 225,200 25 352,800 40 
			 Lambeth 3,732,825 215 6,019,900 281 
			 Lewisham 1,863,502 116 2,117,825 114 
			 Merton 763,074 58 724,584 47 
			 Newham 899,600 100 2,204,507 141 
			 Redbridge 1,632,813 207 1,445,177 124 
			 Richmond Upon Thames 2,069,883 166 1,132,800 79 
			 Southwark 3,598,075 186 3,843,275 185 
			 Sutton 355,200 20 121,800 12 
			 Tower Hamlets 376,400 16 290,600 22 
			 Waltham Forest 2,130,632 171 2,952,765 173 
			 Wandsworth 470,400 42 394,954 11 
			 Westminster 2,292,550 116 2,179,977 145

Asylum Seekers

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers from Zimbabwe have (a) been detained and (b) had their cases certified since his announcement to suspend removals to that country on 15 January; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The latest available information on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers relates to 30 March 2002. As at that date, 30 Zimbabweans (to the nearest five) were being detained who are recorded as having claimed asylum at some stage, which excludes persons detained in police cells. Provisionally, 55 certified refusals were made on asylum applications lodged by nationals of Zimbabwe in January 2002, 35 in February and 45 in March.
	I regret that information on the number of asylum seekers from Zimbabwe who have been detained since 15 January is not available.
	The suspension of removals of asylum seekers to Zimbabwe is a temporary measure. We are monitoring events in the aftermath of the Zimbabwe presidential election in close liaison with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). There is no set time scale, but it would be unrealistic to be able to make any decision on a resumption of removals until the immediate post-election situation has calmed down and we have had time to assess properly the risks to returnees and gather and consider the views of FCO and others. Zimbabwean asylum seekers have continued, where appropriate, to be detained at Oakington Reception Centre as part of the fast-track asylum process. Aside from such individuals, there will be a very small number of people who are detained at present pending removal while outstanding applications, appeals and other matters are resolved. Once such issues have been resolved, the persons concerned will normally be granted bail or temporary admission as appropriate while the suspension of removals remains in place.
	Information on Immigration Act detainees as at 29 June and refusals in the second quarter (April to June) of 2002 will be published on 30 August on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers Accommodation Centres

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the initial sites for possible asylum accommodation centres were identified; which outside consultants were involved in the process; and how much they were paid.

Beverley Hughes: The initial sites for accommodation centres were identified through a programme of searches involving major landowners, including other Government Departments, for properties that met a set of criteria. This included looking for sites with the capacity to cater for several hundred residents plus facilities either as new-build or conversion, a non-urban location and a reasonable geographical spread beyond the south east of England. This work was supported by property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton and planning consultants CgMs Consulting.
	The information relating to fees paid to external consultants cannot be divulged as this is subject to commercial confidentiality.

Civil Penalty Charges

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil penalty charges, established under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, have been issued; and how many clandestine entrants have been found in lorries, since 22 February.

Beverley Hughes: Since the implementation of penalty provisions for road vehicles on 3 April 2000 and as at 31 March 2002, a total of 1,429 penalties have been imposed in respect of 7,516 clandestine entrants.
	Between 22 February 2002 and up to 31 March 2002 for which the latest information is available, a total of 267 clandestine entrants have been found concealed in road vehicles arriving at Dover.

Right of Entry

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account is taken of whether a child was conceived within a lawful marriage overseas in determining right of entry to the United Kingdom to join a parent who is a British national.

Beverley Hughes: Under the Immigration Rules, a child aged 18 or under can be granted entry to join one parent in the United Kingdom, provided that the other parent is dead or that the parent here had had sole responsibility for their upbringing. A parent is defined as the father as well as the mother of an illegitimate child (where he is proved to be the father).
	Illegitimate birth overseas to a British citizen father and non-British citizen mother would usually mean that the child was not a British citizen. However, discretion within the British Nationality Act 1981 can be used to register as a British citizen the illegitimate child of a British citizen father. Also, if the parents of an illegitimate child subsequently marry, and the law of the country in which the father is domiciled legitimises a child of the relationship upon the parents' marriage, the child will be treated as having been born legitimate. The child would then be regarded as a British citizen from birth and would be entitled to enter and remain freely in this country.

Asylum Applications

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many duplicate applications for asylum have been detected through matching fingerprints since 1993.

Beverley Hughes: Some 6,700 individuals have been detected as having made two or more applications through the matching of fingerprints since 1993.

Passport Service

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Passport Service will publish its annual report and accounts for 200102.

Beverley Hughes: The United Kingdom passport service annual report and accounts 200102 has been published today and I am pleased to say that copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

Israeli Embassy and Balfour House Bombings

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions the British scientists investigating the 1994 Israeli Embassy and Balfour House bombings reached on (a) the type and amount of explosive and mechanism used in the bombings, (b) where the explosives were made up, (c) where the car bombs were assembled, (d) who wrote the letters claiming responsibility and (e) who drove the cars; and what reports were received from Israeli scientists following removal of samples from the sites.

David Blunkett: An appeal to the House of Lords is pending in relation to these events. Since the matter is therefore sub judice it would not be right for me to comment.

Terrorist Organisations

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those terrorist organisations that make use of anti-coagulant as part of their armoury; and if he has undertaken liaison work with the Department of Health on this issue.

David Blunkett: We do not disclose information on the weaponry or capability of any terrorist organisation, but we monitor the terrorist threat to the United Kingdom closely and remain vigilant, taking all necessary precautions. I liaise closely with my right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on these matters.
	In addition, Home Office officials are in regular contact with officials from the Department of Health and other Government Departments on all aspects of counter- terrorist contingency planning.

Terrorism

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests have been made as a result of the initiatives undertaken since September in the fight against terrorism; how much expenditure his Department has incurred in pursuing the fight against terrorism in the financial year 200102; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: By 11 July, 137 people had been arrested since 11 September 2001 under the Terrorism Act 2000. In addition, 11 people have been detained under Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. Two of those have since left the United Kingdom voluntarily. It would not be appropriate, for security reasons, to publish details of Home Office expenditure on counter-terrorism.

International Sikh Youth Federation

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received concerning the banning of the International Sikh Youth Federation.

David Blunkett: The organisation itself has made representations to the proscribed organisations appeal commission. In addition, I have received a small number of letters from members of this House, and from the public.

Parliament Square Demonstrations

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency plans (a) there are and (b) are being developed to prevent demonstrations on Parliament Square from disrupting traffic and endangering pedestrians.

John Denham: holding answer 17 June 2002
	Demonstrations in the area of the Palace of Westminster are subject to the Sessional Order, and policing arrangements for any demonstration always take into account the need to maintain the safety of the public. The policing is the operational responsibility of the Commissioner.

England Fans

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many England fans were banned and prevented from visiting Japan and Korea for the 2002 World Cup; how many such fans were found to have travelled to Japan or Korea; how many England fans were deported from Japan or Korea, and for what offences they were deported; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: 1,053 people were prevented from travelling to the World Cup by the conditions of their football banning orders. One individual subject to a banning order attempted to enter Japan but was intercepted by the Japanese immigration authorities and returned to England. No England fans were deported from Japan and Korea for misbehaviour but two individuals were deported by the Japanese Immigration Bureau following revocation of their landing permission. In accordance with commitments given during passage of the Football (Disorder) (Amendment) Act 2002, a detailed report on the World Cup security operation, including the impact of football-related legislation, will be submitted to Parliament on receipt of closing information from the Japanese authorities.

Criminal Records Bureau

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Records Bureau will publish its annual report and accounts for 200102.

Hilary Benn: The criminal records bureau annual report and accounts for 200102 have been published today, and I am pleased to say that copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

Criminal Records Bureau

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what representations he has received from (a) potential umbrella registered bodies and (b) others concerning the financial implications of operating as such a body with the Criminal Records Bureau; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will provide funding to assist umbrella registered bodies with additional costs incurred in setting up an office and processing applications from volunteers to the Criminal Records Bureau;
	(3)  how many organisations have registered as umbrella registered bodies with the Criminal Records Bureau; and what the Bureau's original estimate was.

John Denham: We have been determined that employers and organisations wishing to use the Criminal Records Bureau's service will have a ready means of access. To meet the needs of those employers and organisations which do not wish to register with the Bureau in their own right, we have encouraged others to consider acting on their behalf, as umbrella bodies. It would have been inappropriate to plan on the basis of a pre-determined target number of umbrella bodies. As at close of play on 2 July, some 852 organisations had been registered as umbrella bodies.
	Higher-level disclosures will be issued free of charge to volunteers. A number of representations have been made by potential umbrella registered bodies and others. We are not persuaded that it would be appropriate for additional Government funding to be made available for the purpose of establishing umbrella bodies.

Mobile Phone Thefts

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of reported mobile phone thefts which were insurance fraud in the last 12 months.

John Denham: The requested information is not routinely collected centrally.

Women's Organisations

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which women's organisations have been consulted on proposed legislation by his Department during 200001 and 200102 sessions; and if their responses have been published.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 2 July 2002
	This information is not held centrally within the Home Office and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Transsexuals

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if transsexual people will be able to have their transsexual name and gender recorded on an identity card system introduced by the Government.

Beverley Hughes: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made a statement to the House on 3 July, announcing the publication of a consultation paper on Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud. The consultation period will last until 10 January 2003. The Government has made it clear that the introduction of an entitlement card would be a major step and that it would not proceed without consulting widely and considering all the views expressed very carefully. The consultation paper outlines how a scheme might be delivered by building on the existing driving licence and passport systems.
	In the consultation paper the Government states that it is not proposing any changes to the law on transsexual people in the consultation exercise and that the existing procedures for issuing passports and driving licences in these cases would apply for any entitlement card scheme.
	The Government announced on 21 June that it was reconvening the Working Group on transsexual people whose report has been under active consideration since it was presented to Parliament in July 2000. The Group will look further into the implications of the possible changes in policy identified in the report, and of the judgments of the European Court on Human Rights in the cases of Goodwin v. The United Kingdom and I v. The United Kingdom which were delivered on 11 July. The Group will report to Ministers later this year but no commitment can yet be given on any likely recommendations or the timing of their implementation. Any recommendations will be taken into account in the design of an entitlement card scheme should the Government decide to proceed after the consultation exercise.

Gender Impact Assessment

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the subject of each gender impact assessment drawn up by his Department since June 1997, indicating in each case whether the outcome has been (a) put out to consultation and (b) published.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 2 July 2002
	Details regarding gender impact assessments are not centrally held and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Data Series

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new data series separated by gender, race, disability and age have been commissioned by his Department since August 1997.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 2 July 2002
	Since August 1997 the Research, Development and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office have commissioned the following data series (including further exercises of regular on-going surveys):
	(i) The 2001 Home Office Citizenship Survey collects information on sex, race, disability and age. Reports on the Citizenship Survey planned for 2002 will analyse the data by sex, race and ethnicity.
	(ii) The 2000 sweeps of the British Crime Survey (BCS) incorporated ethnic booster samples. This has allowed the experience of ethnic minorities with respect to both crime victimisation risk and other experience and views regarding the police and other parts of the Criminal Justice System (CJS). From January 2001 the BCS has moved to an annual cycle with a permanent ethnic boost.
	(iii) From 1 April 1999 the information collected by the Home Office on police arrests was extended to provide information for persons arrested for notifiable offences by ethnic appearance of suspect, gender, age group and offence group.
	(iv) From 1 April 2001 police forces have been asked to provide returns on the number of racist crimes recorded by ethnic appearance of victim, offence group, age group and gender of victim and detection rate. Currently this return is voluntary and it is currently proposed that it will become mandatory from 1 April 2003.
	In addition to new data series the Department has commissioned, conducted itself a number of one-off or time-limited exercises, yielding information including one or more of these dimensions.

Antisocial Behaviour

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further measures he is taking to tackle anti-social behaviour.

John Denham: Tackling anti-social behaviour is a priority for the Government. We have included legislative changes in the Police Reform Bill that will improve the effectiveness of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs). We will be issuing revised guidance to all agencies involved in the process of obtaining ASBOs in order that they can make maximum use of this valuable sanction measure.
	The Bill also includes measures that will enable the police to enlist the assistance of their own civilian staff as well as the staff of other agencies in the community in tackling anti-social behaviour. Chief officers will be able to appoint support staff from their civilian ranks to provide a visible presence in the community and exercise limited powers to deal with a range of crime, including those which constitute anti-social behaviour. A similar role is also proposed for some of those staff from other agencies who are already working with the police in the community, such as street wardens, and environmental health officers.
	Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships throughout the country are appointing co-ordinators for action against anti-social behaviour. They will be responsible for ensuring that robust local strategies, based on the needs of their communities, are in place.
	Finally, under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 we introduced fixed penalty fines for a number of disorder offences including disorderly behaviour while drunk in a public place and the throwing of fireworks in a throughfare. This provision will be piloted within five police areas this summer.

Antisocial Behaviour

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many ASBOs have been issued by South Yorkshire police in each of the last two years;
	(2)  how many Acceptable Behaviour Contracts have been issued in South Yorkshire in the last 12 months.

John Denham: Data on the number of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts are not collected centrally.
	Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) were introduced from 1 April 1999 and up to 31 May 2000 data were collected on the total number of ASBOs issued by police force area only. These data do not include information on the applicant. The table shows the number of ASBOs reported to the Home Office from 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2001.
	
		Number of anti-social behaviour orders reported to the Home Office and issued within South Yorkshire from 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2001
		
			 Year Number where applicant was the police Total number issued 
		
		
			 June to December 2000 1 1 
			 January to December 2001 4 7 
		
	
	We are currently considering whether any further checks are needed to ensure the accuracy of the number of ASBOs reported.

Antisocial Behaviour

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued in Hampshire; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) were introduced from 1 April 1999. The latest available data covering the period up to the end of December 2001, show that seven ASBOs have been issued within Hampshire (including the Isle of Wight).
	We are currently considering whether any further checks are needed to ensure the accuracy of the number of ASBOs reported.

Youth Crime

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on Government plans to tackle youth crime in Lancashire;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on Government plans to tackle youth crime in Wales.

John Denham: The Government is supporting a wide programme to tackle youth offending in all areas, which includes action to prevent children being drawn into crime in the first place. This includes work with families, in neighbourhoods to tackle deprivation, with education services to reduce exclusions and improve attendance, and implementation of the 10 year anti-drugs strategy.
	We also support a number of preventative programmes to steer young people, including those most at risk, away from crime. These include Youth Inclusion Programmes: of which there are at present two in Lancashire and three in Wales; Splash Schemes: in 15 localities in Lancashire and seven localities in Wales; and the Positive Futures programme: one project in Lancashire and two in Wales.
	In addition, improvements to the youth justice system, reduced delays, new sentences and programmes, and expanded powers available to the police and courts all help to ensure that we are tackling youth criminality head on.

Alcohol

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has held on the impact of the withdrawal of authority from police to remove unopened containers of alcohol from underage youths in public areas in 2001; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The existing police powers to confiscate alcohol from under-age drinkers in public places, provided by the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997, were amended by section 29 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. This makes it clear that the police can now confiscate alcohol in containers that have been opened, but not alcohol in sealed containers. This adjustment was made to ensure consistency with new police powers to confiscate alcohol from persons in designated public places, provided by section 12 of the 2001 Act.
	We have discussed the effect of this change with the Association of Chief Police Officers and we have received correspondence about it from representatives of the Police Superintendents' Association, police forces and Members of Parliament.
	In the light of these representations, we have asked the Association of Chief Police Officers for advice on whether a further change in the law would be helpful to clarify or strengthen police powers to confiscate alcohol from under-age drinkers.

Illegal Drugs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of people aged under 25 was estimated to be using illegal drugs in each year since 1997, and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 4 July 2002
	Results from the 1998 and 2000 British Crime Surveys estimate that 29 per cent. of adults aged between 16 and 24 reported to have used an illegal drug in the previous year.
	Results from the 2001 survey on Drug use, smoking and drinking among young people in England (published in a Statistical Press Notice by the Department of Health on 15 March 2002) estimates that 20 per cent. of school children aged between 11 and 15 reported to have used an illegal drug in the previous year. A revised and more detailed method for measuring the prevalence of drug use was introduced in 2001. The questions used in 2001 provide new estimates on drug use and are not comparable with results from previous sweeps. Estimates from previous years were 12 per cent. in 1999, 14 per cent. in 2000 and 20 per cent. in 2001.

Police Training

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the training period is for (a) police officers and (b) special constables; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The initial training period for new police officer recruits is two years, and the bulk of this training is provided locally within individual forces.
	Training periods vary from force to force and this data is not held centrally for specials. A new special constabulary foundation-training package is currently being developed.
	The National Competency Framework which is being introduced into police training, will ensure support police officers, special constables, support staff and others including community support officers are trained to the appropriate level of competence.

Hampshire Police Authority

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the regularity and subject matter of communications between his Department and Hampshire police authority in June.

John Denham: holding answer 12 July 2002
	The Home Office does not have a regular cycle of correspondence with police authorities on a monthly basis. A trawl of the Department and inquiries of Hampshire police authority has identified 14 items of correspondence sent from the Home Office and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to the police authority between 1 and 30 June 2002. These covered a range of issues including police reform, police performance and funding arrangements.

Leicestershire Police Authority

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of members of the Leicestershire Police Authority, their occupations and remuneration.

John Denham: This information is not held centrally. Under the Police Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2001, a police authority must maintain a register of financial and other interests, including details of employment. There is no obligation on members to register their personal income. Under paragraph 25A of Schedule 2 of the Police Act 1996 (inserted by section 107 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001), police authorities must publish arrangements for the payment of allowances to their members. Members of Leicestershire police authority must have registered their interests by 28 May 2002. The hon. Member may wish to contact the Clerk of Leicestershire police authority for publicly available information on authority members.

Police

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police authorities have been provided with PFI credits for new buildings and major refurbishments; what the capital value of each investment is; how many new buildings are proposed within each project; and at what stage they are in the PFI procurement process.

John Denham: Details on the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects for police authorities where contracts have been signed are set out in table 1. Credit approval has been given for all these schemes.
	A number of forces have been given provisional approval for schemes which are in the earlier stages of procurement. These are listed in table 2.
	
		Table 1: Police PFI schemes for which contracts have been signed
		
			  Police force  Project Number of new buildings Estimated capital value ( million) Procurement stage 
		
		
			 Cleveland/Durham Firearms Facility 1 9.0 Operational 
			 Cumbria Workington Police Station 1 5.2 Operational 
			 Derbyshire Ilkeston Police Station 1 5.2 Operational 
			 Derbyshire Divisional HQ and City Police Station 2 16.0 Operational 
			 Dorset Divisional HQ and three new Police Stations 4 15.0 Operational 
			 Dyfed-Powys Ammanford Police Station 1 6.0 Operational 
			 Norfolk HQ, Operations and Communications Centre 1 23.0 Operational 
			 Northumbria Mounted Police Section Facilities, stables and staff accommodation 1 1.0 Operational 
			 Nottinghamshire Traffic Wing and Vehicle Services 1 40.0 Operational 
			
			 Thames Valley Abingdon Area Divisional Headquarters 1 7.0 Operational 
			 Wiltshire Air SupportHelicopter Services - 3.0 Operational 
			 Cheshire Force Headquarters 1 36.0 In development 
			 Sussex Centralised Custody Suites 3 30.0 In development 
			 Total   196.4  
		
	
	
		Table 2: Police PFI schemes in negotiation
		
			  Police force  Project Number of new buildings Estimated capital value ( million)  Procurement stage 
		
		
			 Dorset(22) 2 Joint Fire/Ambulance Stations and 1 Police Divisional Headquarters 3 15.0 OBC 
			 Cheshire Centralised Custody Suites 3 15.0 Bidders assessed 
			 Gloucestershire Force Headquarters 1 17.0 Bidders assessed 
			 Kent Divisional Headquarters, Medway 1 19.0 ITN 
			 Wiltshire Divisional Headquarters and satellite facilities 5 15.0 ITN 
			 Cleveland Centralised Custody Suites 3 12.0 Preferred bidder identified 
			 Greater Manchester Property ReviewDivisional/Sub Divisional Headquarters and Police Stations 16 60.0 FBC 
			 Gwent Ystrad Mynach Police Station 1 5.2 FBC 
			 North Wales Divisional Headquarters and Major Incident Unit 1 20.0 FBC 
			 Total   178.2  
		
	
	(22) denotes joint project with the fire service
	Note:
	OBCOutline Business Case endorsed in principle for credit support.
	Bidders IdentifiedInitial bidders assessed following publication of Notice in Official Journal of the European Communities.
	ITNInvitation to Negotiate issued to a selected number of contractors.
	FBCFinal Business Case: preparation or conclusion of the full and final business case for the proposed development in light of final bids.

Police

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Police Reform and Bill Unit was established; how much it cost in 2001; how many staff it employs; and what its remit is.

John Denham: holding answer 17 June 2002
	The Police Reform Bill and Implementation Unitas it is now knownwas established in June 2001 to co-ordinate the implementation of the police reform programme, as set out in the White Paper Policing A New Century: A Blueprint for Reform, and to manage the Police Reform Bill.
	The unit currently employs 11 staff. Total costs for the last financial year were approximately 525,000.

Police

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations there were by region in England and Wales, in each of the last 10 years.

John Denham: holding answer 17 June 2002
	Information on the number of police stations by region in each of the last 10 years is given in the table.
	Comprehensive information is available from all 43 forces for the three years to March 2000, March 2001 and March 2002, but some forces were unable to provide data for earlier years. This is reflected in the table.
	
		Police station numbers by region March 1992March 2002(23)
		
			 Region 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 North East 57 57 58 62 64 64 63 62 98 98 96 
			 North West 322 323 329 318 318 315 305 288 279 277 277 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 126 127 127 123 122 119 122 116 188 185 182 
			 East Midlands 145 146 146 146 147 147 124 124 153 157 155 
			 West Midlands 213 202 197 194 184 179 176 175 174 174 175 
			 Eastern(24) 250 226 225 194 193 193 193 190 199 186 186 
			 London(24) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 158 146 150 
			 South East(24) 285 274 270 263 256 253 243 242 237 234 236 
			 South West 311 305 277 262 242 223 220 216 201 197 195 
			 Wales 208 203 202 200 200 182 241 236 283 271 267 
			 Totals(23) 1,919 1,865 1,833 1,764 1,728 1,677 1,689 1,651 1,970 1,925 1,919 
		
	
	(23) Totals given for 199297 cover 34 forces only. The remaining nine forces were unable to supply the relevant data. The total figures for 1998 and 1999 cover 35 forces only. For 2000, 2001 and 2002 all forces provided data.
	(24) As a result of boundary changes in April 2000, 12 police stations were transferred from the Metropolitan Police Service to Essex (2), Herts (4) and Surrey (6).

Police

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in Portsmouth have less than two years' experience; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The information requested has been provided by the Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary (Mr. P. R. Kernaghan Esq. QPM).
	In the Portsmouth Division of the Hampshire Constabulary there were 72 officers with less than two years' experience as at 30 April 2002. This is 17.4 per cent. of the total strength of the Division, which was 413 at the same date.
	Police force performance does not depend solely upon the number or experience of officers available. The proposals in the White Paper Policing a New Century: A blueprint for Reform set out a radical and ambitious programme of reform, with the overall aim of reducing crime and the fear of crime and to tackle antisocial behaviour. The test of success will be whether the measures being put in place will make a real difference to the quality of life of individuals and communities up and down the country.
	The public have a right to expect the same high standards of service wherever they live and the Government propose to put a framework in place to ensure that all police forces come up to the standard of the best.

Police

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are employed by the Devon and Cornwall Police Force; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Figures supplied by the Chief Constable (Sir John Evans QPM) show that on 31 January 2002 Devon and Cornwall constabulary had 3,030 officers. This figure is for full-time equivalent officers, was an increase of 166 over force strength at 31 March 1997 and was a record strength for the force.

Police

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what point in their recruitment and training a new recruit to the police force counts for the purposes of his figures on police strength.

John Denham: holding answer 25 April 2002
	New recruits to the police service count toward the statistics for police strength from the date of their appointment to a police force.
	Training takes place after appointment. Recruits normally begin accompanied patrol about 19 weeks after recruitment and usually qualify to undertake independent patrol after about 31 weeks.
	Police strength is at record levels, but it is not only the number of officers which matters. The Government are committed to ensuring that forces are making best use of existing resources and that patrol officers are spending as much time as possible on the front line, carrying out their core functions.
	The public have a right to expect the same high standards of service wherever they live and the Government propose to put a framework in place to ensure that all police forces come up to the standard of the best.

Police Checks

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that adults working with vulnerable adults are police checked prior to commencing employment in this sector; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Once part VII of the Care Standards Act 2000 is implemented, anyone being considered for a care position, within the terms of that Act, working with vulnerable adults will have to be the subject of a higher-level check via the Criminal Records Bureau. This will include both police records and the new list provided for under the Act of persons considered unsuitable to work with vulnerable adults.

Prison Service

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress the Prison Service has made in the last year towards improving its environmental performance; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service continues to make progress in this area. During the last year there have been a number of achievements as regards biodiversity, energy efficiency, procurement, transport and waste management. These are described in the service's second annual environmental report published today, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
	In introducing a formal greening operations policy in March 2000, the Director General of the Prison Service made clear his own personal commitment to improving the environmental performance of the service. A challenging programme of work in line with that commitment, and detailed in the report, has been set for the current year.

Prison Service

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the performance of Her Majesty's Prison Service in 200102.

Hilary Benn: I am pleased to report that the Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts have today been published. Copies have been placed in the Library.

Correspondence

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Passport Agency will respond to the letter of 27 February from the hon. Member for Christchurch, concerning the case of Mr. Bevis and Miss Biddiscombe.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 16 July 2002
	The United Kingdom Passport Service replied to the hon. Member on 12 July and have apologised for the delay in sending their response.

Correspondence

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Chief Executive of the Integrated Casework Directorate (Nationality) will respond to the letter of the hon. Member for Christchurch sent on 17 June.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 16 July 2002
	A senior official from the Nationality Group wrote to the hon. Member on 16 July 2002 in response to his earlier correspondence.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on preventive measures to fight violence against children, young persons and women (Daphne) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The Daphne Committee assists the European Commission in the management and implementation of a programme which co-funds projects to promote the protection of children, young persons and women from violence and abuse. It normally meets twice a year, initially to agree the annual work programme and criteria for evaluating the selecting bids for funding and subsequently to discuss the bids which have been received and to agree the allocation of funds to successful projects.
	The United Kingdom is represented on the Committee by a Home Office official (for issues concerning domestic violence and violence against women), an official from the Department of Health (for child protection issues) and an official from the United Kingdom Permanent Representation in Brussels.
	The Daphne programme is funded by the European Community budget and travel costs to attend Committee meetings are met by the European Commission. The Home Office pays a subsistence allowance to cover attendance at a Committee meeting.
	The Commission is required to prepare reports on the implementation of the programme in its second and final years which will be submitted to the Council and European Parliament. The reports will also be published in the EUROPA internet website. I do not see a need for further measures to increase the Committee's accountability and transparency.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many statutory instruments have been (a) introduced, (b) removed and (c) amended by his Department since 1 January; and what the (i) cost and (ii) saving has been in each case.

Beverley Hughes: 57 statutory instruments have been made by Home Office Ministers since 1 January 2002. Three have been revoked. Information is not available about the costs and savings of implementation and repeal and could not be made available other than at disproportionate cost.

Information Database

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 882W, if he will place in the Library a full description of the network information database.

Beverley Hughes: I presume that the right hon. Member is referring to the Case Information Database (CID), which was developed and implemented during 200102 as the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND's) main database system.
	It is not intended to place a description of the database in the Library.
	The functionality and data management is subject to continual revision. In that connection, a significant enhancement programme is currently under way to enable the implementation of many IND policy initiatives and process improvements planned for the next two years. It is considered that the work required in maintaining a full description of the database would prove disproportionate.

Information Database

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 882W, if he will place in the Library an explanation of how the database will be used to monitor the Department's performance;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 882W, when the casework information database will be fully operational.

Beverley Hughes: The Case Information Database (CID) was successfully developed and implemented during 200102 as the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND's) main database system.
	It is not intended to place in the Library an explanation specifically of how CID is used to monitor performance. The means by which IND monitors its business and it's approach to performance management generally are described within documents such as IND's Business Plan and the plans of individual units within IND.

Home Office Traffic Reporting

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the procedure is relating to the production of documents at a police station within seven days of being stopped in a motor vehicle; and whether a receipt or NCR copy should be provided on production of an HORT2 form.

John Denham: holding answer 10 June 2002
	Police officers are entitled under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to require motorists to produce a range of driver and vehicle related documents for inspection. A motorist failing to produce such documents on request is guilty of an offence, unless he produces them at a police station of his nomination within seven days.
	If any of the required documents cannot be made available at the time of the police request, the motorist is issued with a form HORT 1. This formally notifies him that within the specified time he must present the documents at a police station of his choice, which is recorded on the form.
	The HORT 1 is in two parts. The top copy is issued to the driver, the bottom is retained within the issuing force to monitor and control the subsequent presentation of the documents. Upon their presentation, staff at the nominated police station inspect them and record the necessary details on a two part document known as the HORT 2. One part of the HORT 2 is then retained by the nominated police station and the second part sent to the originating police force so that they can verify compliance with the original request.
	The HORT system has no statutory basis. It is operated by the police for administrative convenience without any direct Government involvement. In 1996 an Association of Chief Police Officers Working Group considered whether the system should include the issue of a receipt for documents produced. The Group unanimously concluded that the costs incurred would far exceed any benefit.